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ENGLEWOOD. 

ITS ANNALS AND REMINISCENCES. 



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ENGLEWOOD. 



ITS ANNALS AND REMINISCENCES. 



BY 

J. A. HUMPHREY. 



ILLUSTRATED. 



r 

J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING CO. 

NEW YORK. 






Copyrighted, 1899, 

BY 

J. A. HUMPHREY. 



^4 



PREFACE. 



The object of this volume is to place 
on record events in the history of Engle- 
wood for the last forty years, also to 
keep in memory those who were its 
pioneers and founders. 

The writer entered upon this duty 
with reluctance, as he would have much 
preferred to have left it to other hands 
more capable than his. 

Realizing that the annals of this city 
should be written by one familiar with 
its affairs from the beginning, and not 
knowing how long that one may be per- 
mitted to remain, is the writer's apology 
for attempting the task. 



VI 



PREFACE. 



It is written mostly from memory, as 
very few of the incidents are on record. 

It is not intended to narrate the history 
of men and affairs of to-day, except as 
they form links in the chain of beings 
that extends back into years that have 
pasb. 

The author has not intended to give a 
detailed history of societies and institu- 
tions, but to notice them in a general 
way. 

He asks the reader to be kind in his 
criticisms, and tread gently over the im- 
prefections of this little work. 

J. A. H. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 



CHAPTER. 

I. A Retrospective View 11 

II. A Flight of Fancy 16 

III. The Habits and Customs of the People . . 18 

rv. Emigration to the Suburbs 20 

V. The Birth of Englewood 21 

VI. The Northern Railroad 25 

VII. The First to Arrive 28 

VIII. Engle wood's Early Residents 30 

IX. An Excursion 32 

X. A Scarcity of Supplies 39 

XL Moving to the Country 41 

XII. Welcomed by the Original Inhabitants . 43 

XIII. The Church Remembered 45 

XIV. Contributions to the First Church 49 

XV. Building in the Palisades Forest 51 

XVI. A Large Undertaking 53 

XVII. Building a New Town 58 

XVIII. Malaria and Mosquitoes 62 

XIX. When our Wells Ran Dry 64 

XX. Effect of the Civil War 66 

XXI. Our First Tonsorial Professor 69 

XXII. A Railroad Experience 70 

XXIII. The Liberty Pole Tavern 72 

XXIV. Our First Postmaster 76 

XXV. Our First Physician 80 



viii CONTENTS 

CHAPTER. PAGE . 

XXVI. Prosperous Times 83 

XXVII. Our Schools 96 

XXVIII. The Hospital 101 

XXIX. The Field Club 105 

XXX. Englewood Golf Club 110 

XXXI. Music and Song 113 

XXXII. Planting Trees 115 

XXXIII. Fruit Trees 117 

XXXIV. An Old Orchard 119 

XXXV. Drainage 121 

XXXVI. Anticipating Wants 122 

XXXVII. The Canal Company 125 

XXXVIII. Roads 127 

XXXIX. Village Improvement Society 128 

XL. The Protection Society 130 

XLI. An Exciting Incident 13 i 

XLII. The Old Ravine 139 

XLIII. The Little Park near the Depot 141 

XLIV. The Old Saw Mill 143 

XLV. An Old Ice Pond 145 

XLVI. The Press 148 

XLVII. Englewood Sewer Co 151 

XLVIII. A Swiss Mountain Road 152 

XLIX. New York and New Jersey Bridge Com- 
pany 155 

L. Celebrating the Election of President 

Grant in 1868 157 

LI. A Surrender to Our Flag 160 

LII. A Revival of Business 162 

LITI. A New Presbyterian Church 165 

LIV. A Methodist Church 169 

LV. The Catholic Church 171 

LVI. The Episcopal Church 173 

LVII. A Picnic on the Palisades 175 



CONTENTS. ix 

CHAPTER. PAGE. 

LVIII. Speculating Beyond the Limits of the 

Town 178 

LIX. The Panic of 1873 180 

LX. The Tables Turned 181 

LXI. The Palisades Land Company 183 

LXII. Speculation in Oil 185 

LXIII. Purchasing a Gas Machine 187 

LXIV. The Bergen County Gas Company 189 

LXV. Water Introduced 191 

LXVI. Brookside Cemetery 192 

LXVII. An Auction Sale 195 

LXVIII. A Contest with a Burglar 199 

LXIX. Our Oldest Master Builders 204 

LXX. An ex-Tammany Sheriff 205 

LXXI. A Chapter on Taxes 206 

LXXII. Good Templars 208 

LXXIII. Catholic Societies 209 

LXXIV. Tuscan Lodge F. and A. M., No. 115. ... 210 

LXXV. Odd Fellows 212 

LXXVI. The Royal Arcanum 213 

LXXVII. Dwight Post 215 

LXXVIII. Loan and Building Association 217 

LXXIX. The Daughters of the Revolution 218 

LXXX. The Woman's Exchange 221 

LXXXI. The Lyceum 223 

LXXXII. Daisy Fields 225 

LXXXIII. A New Church 229 

LXXXIV. Our Fire Department 233 

LXXXV. A City of Dwellings 335 

LXXXVI. The Character of Our City 237 



ENGLEWOOD. 
I. 

A RETKOSPECTIVE VIEW. 

As time rolls on we love to look back 
into the bygone regions of the past— a 
region we all mnst enter some day— as 
we belong to a vast chain of beings with 
every link united, either in written or 
unwritten history. How pleasant then to 
let our thoughts return to scenes and 
friends of long ago. 

My object in writing a brief history of 
our village is to preserve the memory of 
its founders, before the last one departs 
and is forgotten; and to give in detail 
some of the events it has passed through 
from the time the first steam whistle 



12 ENGLEWOOD. 

awoke the echoes of the Palisades to the 
period when the Township Committee 
handed its affairs over to the new city 
government. In other words to compare 
the past with the present. It may in- 
terest those who are to-day enjoying the 
lights and shadows of Englewood, its 
well-paved streets, its shady walks, and 
handsome lawns, with forests of trees 
that protect you from summer heat, with 
waters that flow through every dwelling 
as they pass to the ocean. 

Ours was a dear little village for many 
years, with all its old-time hospitality 
extended to each other in everyday life, 
a place where we knew every one as we 
knew the shrubs and flowers in our gar- 
dens. We became strongly united, more 
by mutual interests and obligations than 
kindred ties. It was a union of earnest 
workers associated by a community of 
rights and interests. They loved nature 
in all its varied forms of life ; they loved 



ENOLEWOOD. 13 

it as a picture and not as a scientific 
study. 

Their object in inviting others to join 
them in making this their home was that 
they might have friends and neighbors 
to share in the benefits that were sure to 
accrue. Speculation never entered the 
minds of the first settlers when they 
came here, but it forced itself upon them 
naturally and from necessity. If we 
trace their history one by one, we shall 
find that their labors were a contribution 
to the community, with very little gain 
to themselves. 

They found poor soil, rough and un- 
cultivated fields, no fences, streets, 
lawns or shade; and all the comforts of 
modern civilization were wanting. 

The gallinaceous quail and partridge 
sang their motherly songs and raised 
their young in the fields and forests un- 
molested, until the sharp crack of the 
village sportsman's rifle silenced them. 



14 ENGLEWOOD. 

The coming of the early inhabitants of 
Englewood was more than an incident in 
their lives — it was an event that has be- 
come history. Their lives were a succes- 
sion of events, the issue of which is seen 
on every hand. It was a pleasure for 
them to lay off the commercial harness 
and spend a portion of their years in 
transferring broad acres into lawns and 
gardens. 

"Where they could unconcern' dly find 

Hours, days, and years slide softly away, 
In health of body, peace of mind 
Quiet by day. 

"Sound sleep by night; study and ease, 
Together mixed ; sweet recreation ; 
And innocence, which most does please, 
With meditation." 

Bound together in a common lot, these 
early settlers spent much time in friendly 
consultation for the common good. 



ENGLEWOOD. 15 

They worked by faith; as to land among 
strangers, surrounded by barren fields, 
with very few inhabitants, buy real es- 
tate, map it out, and plant a depot are 
evidences that an unseen hand guides the 
undeveloped germs in our minds. 



16 ENOLEWOOD. 



II. 

A FLIGHT OF FANCY. 

While spending the summer of 1859 at 
the Getty House, in the village of Yonk- 
ers, I often looked dreamily across the 
Hudson River toward the west, and won- 
dered what there was beyond those 
mighty Palisades— rocky heights that 
rose five hundred feet perpendicularly 
above the river, and crowned by a dense 
forest that seemed strangely wild and 
out of place so near the great city. I 
was told that beyond the western slope of 
these mountains a broad and fertile val- 
ley extended from New York City to 
Piermont, a distance of twenty-five 
miles. And that its inhabitants had no 
means of communicating with the city 
except by stage or private conveyance. 



ENOLEWOOD. 17 

The valley was watered by a stream that 
ages ago was a mighty river. I was also 
informed that a railroad had just been 
completed, where not only the inhabi- 
tants of the valley could have rapid com- 
munication with the city, but where the 
people of the great and growing metrop- 
olis could find rest and fresh air as well 
as ramble through the sweet-scented 
fields and forests of New Jersey. 

Conducting business in the City of 
New York and retiring to the country at 
the close of the day was hardly thought 
of at that time. Yonkers was but a 
small village, and the Oranges, with one 
exception, had not appeared in history. 
A township then would make a good- 
sized county to-day. Hackensack Town- 
ship extended to the Hudson River, and 
Englewood Township did not exist until 
1871. A tax on a house and lot in 1861 
would hardly pay a dog tax to-day. 



18 JMiULE WUUdj. 



III. 

THE HABITS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE. 

Pkevious to 1858 the residents of this 
valley seldom visited the City of New 
York, except strictly for business or to 
convey their farm products to market, 
as the latter was their principal source 
of income. An old stage of ancient de- 
sign ran from the "Liberty Pole Hotel," 
an old inn, whose history antedates the 
Revolution, to Hoboken. It carried no 
mail as the nearest post office was at 
Hackensack. It will hardly be realized 
that many who were born so near the 
city lived to a good old age, and passed 
away without ever having walked its 
busy streets. The voice of the first steam 
whistle awoke to new life the easy-going 



ENQLEWOOD. 19 

residents of the valley of the "Over- 
peck." The inhabitants were an honest, 
industrious people, caring little for the 
busy world beyond them. Their friends, 
outside of their immediate neighborhood, 
were few. The entire population of a 
township comprised but a small number 
of names, as they married and intermar- 
ried, and were nearly all first, second or 
third cousins. 

Fortunes were slowly accumulated, 
and seldom lost, as the people never 
speculated. Good health and old age 
were the rewards for their contented and 
temperate lives. 



>ij ENQLEWOOD. 



IV. 

EMIGRATION TO THE SUBURBS. 

The population that sleep out of town, 
that go to and fro from every great city, 
is constantly increasing, and assumes an 
air of sympathy for all who cling to the 
stifling atmosphere of the city's noisy 
streets and the poisonous perfumes of its 
sewers and gas factories. The singing 
of birds in the early morning is better 
than the noisy horse car or the small ven- 
der of garden merchandise under your 
front windows. 

But there are exceptions to all rules, 
as we have seen many delightful people 
return to the city after a short expe- 
rience in the country. Still there is 
always a floating population that is as 
restless as the ocean waves. 



'**&*' 








^zw^ , 



ENGLEWOOD. 21 



V. 

THE BIRTH OF ENGLEWOOD. 

To Mr. J. Wyman Jones belongs the 
credit of first presenting Englewood to 
the outside world. Being acquainted 
with several of the contractors and 
parties engaged in building the "North- 
ern Railroad of New Jersey," Mr. Jones 
received letters explaining the opportu- 
nities this road would offer for opening 
new towns along its line. Quick to see 
the force of this advice he visited this 
valley, and after investigation, wisely 
chose the present site of Englewood and 
located a station. Mr. J. Wyman Jones 
purchased by contract one hundred and 
twenty-five acres of land bounded on the 
north and south by what is now Palisade 



22 ENQLEWOOD. 

Avenue, and running from the "Over- 
peck Creek" to the Hudson River from 
Thomas W. Demarest and Garrett A. 
Lydecker, both of English Neighborhood, 
Hackensack Township, New Jersey. 
Mr. J. Wyman Jones named Utica as his 
residence at that time. This contract 
previously referred to was made in 1858. 
In June, 1850, Mr. Jones invited others 
to join him in this purchase. At that 
time Messrs. I. Smith Homans, Jr., 
Robert Bayles, and Byran Murray, Jr., 
each took a quarter interest in lands on 
the north side of Palisade Avenue. 
Mr. J. Wyman Jones, I. Smith Homans, 
Jr., and Sheppard Homans were the first 
New Yorkers to come into this valley for 
a permanent residence after the North- 
ern Railroad was completed. Their zeal 
and enthusiasm inspired many others to 
join them in the new enterprise. J. Wy- 
man Jones was practicing law. I. Smith 
Homans, Jr., with his father, published 



ENGLEWOOD. 23 

the "Bankers' Magazine," and Sheppard 
Romans was actuary of the Mutual Life 
Insurance Company. Mr. I. Smith Ho- 
mans, Jr., united with Mr. Jones at this 
time and entered heartily into the enter- 
prise. In the spring of 1859 a few gentle- 
men met to consider a name for the ter- 
ritory they had just purchased. To Mr. 
J. Wyman Jones is due the credit of pre- 
senting the name of Englewood . Several 
other names were discussed, but Engle- 
wood was adopted. How the name was 
presented to the mind of Mr. Jones I 
cannot say. The farm above referred to 
formerly belonged to and was occupied a 
short time before by the Rev. C. T. De- 
marest, whose house was located on the 
site of the present Lyceum. In August, 
1859, Mr. Jones had the lands surveyed, 
and a map of Englewood placed on file in 
the office of the county clerk at Hacken- 
sack. 
At that time the birth of Englewood 



24 ENGLEWOOD. 

may be said to have taken place. The 
territory of the place included six farms, 
said farms being long, narrow strips of 
land running from the creek to the Hud- 
son River. At this time there was no 
Palisade Avenue nor even a street. Mr. 
Jones had the streets laid out, and gave 
the contract for grading and putting 
them in order. Stumps of trees had to 
be removed along the wooded part of 
them to make room for the road. 



ENGLEWOOD. 25 



VI 

"the northern railroad." 

The Northern Railroad was completed 
about this time. It had wrecked two or 
three contractors in its construction, as 
was generally the case with new rail- 
roads forty years ago. A small station 
stood a little south of the old brick one 
that was abandoned some time ago. 
The road did not pay expenses for some 
time. Its bonds were unsalable at 
seventy and its stock at fifty cents on a 
dollar unless for the purpose of buying 
real estate. The little station had a 
brilliant christening the first night of its 
existence. A ball, attended by the lads 
and fair lasses of the valley, was kept up 
until the early hours of the morning, and 



2G ENOLEWOOD. 

right and left, and all hands around, kept 
step with the music of a violin. 

The road ran but one train a day for 
some time, and one passenger and bag- 
gage car accommodated the traveling 
public. The trains ran through the open 
cut into the Pennsylvania depot for some 
years. The company's removal to 
Chambers Street met with strong opposi- 
tion by many of its patrons. Thomas 
W. Demarest was its first president and 
John Van Brunt was treasurer and a 
director. 

The first train must have been an 
awakening to the minds of the people of 
this vicinity and filled them with aston- 
ishment as it went roaring up the valley 
like an uncaged lion. It was to be the 
last of their isolation from the world. 

1 presume many timid people made 
their wills and parted with reluctance 
and fear before taking passage for the 
first time. 



EKGLEWOOD. 27 

C. C. Waters was the first depot mas- 
ter. C. W. Chamberlain took charge not 
long after and kept it to the satisfaction 
of the company and the public for many 
years. 



28 ENGLEWOOD. 



VII. 

THE FIRST TO ARRIVE. 

If any one will look at the map of 
Englewood, filed in 1858, he will observe 
that but three houses existed within its 
boundaries, one of which stood on the 
corner of Palisade Avenue and Engle 
Street. 

Palisade Avenue was a rough moun- 
tain road, opened at first to convey rail- 
road ties from the forest of the Palisades 
to the valley below. 

J. Wyman Jones and family spent the 
summer of 1859 at the house of John 
Van Brunt, a half a mile south of the 
station. 

Mr. I. Smith Homans, Sr., and family 
moved into the "Dominie Demarest" 



ENGLEWOOD. 29 

house, corner of the avenue and Engle 
Street. This old dwelling was afterward 
enlarged and became a young ladies' 
high school, which a few years later was 
destroyed by lire. 

The family of Mr. Homans occupied 
the only house on the east side of the 
railroad within the boundaries of the 
map of Englewood just filed. It ex- 
tended its hospitality to the many people 
that visited the town. They were a 
family of fascinating courtesy, whose 
kind attention to strangers attracted 
many desirable people to this place. 
Their house was a sunny spot to their 
numerous friends. 



30 ENOLEWOOD. 



VIII. 

englewood's early residents. 

Mr. J. Wyman Jones and Mr. I. Smith 
Homans, Jr., devoted more time and en- 
ergy in colonizing this valley than &\\y 
residents within its boundaries, and they 
are most closely identified with the his- 
tory of this town. They gave liberally 
toward the building of the first depot, 
the little stone chapel, the hotel known 
as the "Englewood House," the Athe- 
naeum, as well as several private resi- 
dences, and the laying out and grading 
of streets, planting trees, and so forth. 
They labored and gave much toward the 
building of churches and the establish- 
ment of schools. 

Mr. Sheppard Homans assisted his 



ENQLEWOOD. 31 

brother with means to carry on all these 
improvements. He was an old and 
valued citizen, a delightful companion 
who took an active interest in Engle- 
wood affairs until his death in 1897. 



32 ENGLEWOOD. 



IX. 

AN EXCUKSION. 

One afternoon in the month of October, 
1859, Mr. By ran Murray, Jr., stepped 
into my place of business, and in coarse 
of conversation informed me in glowing 
terms of a valley west of the Palisade 
forests, watered by the"Overpeck," and 
inhabited by an industrious people who 
had never enjoyed the benefits of rapid 
transit. The writer was also informed 
that a railroad had just been completed 
to Piermont, a distance of twenty-five 
miles from New York. He invited me to 
join himself and a number of friends on 
an excursion over this new road to the 
new station of Englewood. I accepted his 
kind invitation, as I had for a long time 



ENGLEWOOD. 33 

desired to exchange the conventional 
life of a noisy city for forests, fields and 
streams. 

On a beautiful morning in the month 
of October Messrs. J. Wyman Jones, I. 
Smith Homans, Robert Baylis, Bryan 
Murray, Jr., George S. Coe, Nathan T. 
Johnson, and the writer, took a train for 
Englewood, a new station on the "North- 
ern Railroad," about fourteen miles from 
New York. It was a day to impress a 
lover of nature. The barren fields were 
to us an enchanted garden. Well culti- 
vated farms sloped down to the valley 
from the west. Orchards of golden fruit 
and the scattered dwellings of the peace- 
ful farmer made a picture to remember. 
The densely wooded Palisades on our 
right, and the well watered valley, were 
a revelation. The golden hues of autumn 
illuminated all nature. We arrived on 
time; there was no Englewood to greet 
us except in name. Not a lot had been 



34 ENQLEWOOD. 

sold, not a building erected; but nature 
was here in all her glorious dress. We 
alighted at the little rough and ready 
station and after viewing our surround- 
ings started for the home of Mr. I. Smith 
Homans, Sr., where we were kindly wel- 
comed, and invited to partake of a lunch- 
eon that we shall ever remember with 
pleasure. After resting a short time we 
started out on the highway that led to 
the Hudson River. Undulating waves 
like the billows of the ocean carried us 
from plain to plain, from the valley to 
the Palisades, as the road ascends by 
successive valleys and plains all the way 
to the river. The air was laden with the 
breath of autumn; the sun shed a soft 
and mellow light; all nature was vocal 
with the song of birds, and the hum of 
insect life filled the air. When we ar- 
rived nearly opposite the present Pres- 
byterian Church, my eye rested upon a 
beautiful piece of rolling ground, over 



ENQLEWOOD. 35 

which not a tree or a shrub cast a 
shadow. In a business point of view I 
had gone far enough. It was love at 
first sight; I would have purchased that 
field then and there; I said, "If you wish 
me to make my dwelling in Englewood, 
there must be my home." This announce- 
ment caused a little embarrassment to 
two of the gentlemen present, as they 
had selected that identical spot for their 
homes. A desire to secure new settlers 
caused them to seriously consider the 
matter. After a few days' reflection, and 
upon my promise to erect a dwelling the 
following spring or return the land, I 
was permitted to make the purchase. 

This plot of ground contained six acres, 
and had a frontage of six hundred feet 
on the present Palisade Avenue. I had 
been so accustomed to city lots that this 
seemed like a small farm. My house 
was completed in the time specified, and 
was occupied early in the spring of 1860. 



36 ENGLEWOOD. 

To my personal property I added the 
usual household pets, which included a 
cat, a black and tan, and an animal to 
supply us with butter and milk. These 
animals all disappeared by accident, or 
otherwise; the dog lost his bark under 
the wheels of a butcher's cart, and the 
bovine lost her life in an attempt to de- 
rail a train running ten miles an hour. 
Nearly every one kept a cow at that 
time, as the fields were all unfenced and 
pasturage was free. This was the first 
contract given out, and the first dwelling 
built in Englewood after it received its 
name. 

We continued our excursion to the 
Palisades. From that elevation a beau- 
tiful prospect was unfolded to view; we 
were surrounded by the silent forests, 
where cool shadows lie, looked down five 
hundred feet to the waters of the Hud- 
son, and viewed its floating commerce 
as it passed to and fro on its business 



ENOLEWOOD. 37 

mission. Then across to its eastern 
shore, stretching along like a fairy land, 
thence over the Sound to the distant 
cities and villages of Long Island. 
Notwithstanding these scenes have 
grown old like a garment — lost their 
novelty, and change of dress, the reader 
can hardly realize how beautiful, new, 
and fascinating they were to us at that 
time. The dust under our feet seemed 
grains of gold, and the views seemed 
priceless. We returned to the fields be- 
low, and continued through wild and 
tangled underbrush, over stone walls, 
and through shadowy lanes to the pres- 
ent village of Tenafly. 

On these elevated plains there was 
very little cultivation; stone walls of 
ancient construction, weeds, and wild 
vines covered the fields. Very little 
farm produce was raised on the east side 
of the valley. Rough roads and foot 
paths led from each farm up into the 



38 ENOLEWOOD. 

mountains. These roads were used by 
the farmers to transport their fuel, and 
lumber. In those days we used to roam 
the forests in search of game without 
much fear of poisonous reptiles, but since 
that time, the farmer having retired, 
thick underbrush has grown up, the cop- 
perhead is unmolested, and primeval 
darkness, and silence reign. After a 
delightful tramp we returned to the 
station full of enthusiam for the land we 
had discovered. The wild and unculti- 
vated surroundings pleased us. Fortu- 
nately our youth and ambition fitted us 
for the years of toil and labor that lay 
unseen in the unrevealed future. 

This excursion meant more for all of 
us than we realized at the time. On 
that day was laid the foundation of a 
city, and we were unconsciously drawing 
together in a close friendship which was 
to continue through our lives. 



ENGLEWOOD. 39 



X. 

A SCARCITY OF SUPPLIES. 

For some time we had to buy our 
marketing and groceries, in fact all our 
family supplies, in New York, as the 
only grocery store was a very small 
one kept by Mr. John Van Brunt, and 
situated about a mile south of this 
village. We had no market or shop 
of any kind. It was not unusual for 
the heads of families to carry their bas- 
kets to and from the trains every day. 
The streets were new and we were 
obliged to drive through Jersey mud and 
deep sands, our wheels often sinking to 
the hubs. Our walks were nature's 
walks chiefly — almost impassable. If 
we missed a train, which sometimes oc- 



40 ENGLEWOOD. 

curred, we would drive to Hoboken or 
remain at home; but distance and time 
have been annihilated by rapid-running 
and frequent trains. Going to and from 
the country is a simple matter compared 
to forty years ago. 



ENGLEWOOD. 41 



XL 

MOVING TO THE COUNTKY. 

The early settler had to occupy farm- 
houses wherever he could find accommo- 
dation until new homes were erected. A 
great many families were settled miles 
away, families that afterward came to 
live within the village limits. The 
writer with his family went to reside 
with Mr. J. W. Deuell, the school teacher, 
until his house was completed. Mr. By- 
ron Murray boarded with the same 
family. In this house was born the first 
child that was a native of Englewood 
after the place was named. 

Englewood has to-day over six thou- 
sand inhabitants. On the 15th day of 
August, 1859, a map of Englewood was 
filed, of which the one shown in this 



42 ENOLEWOOD. 

volume is a copy. On this map there are 
shown but three houses, one on the east 
side of the railroad, and two on the Ten- 
afly road. These were all farmhouses. 

The only roads used by the old in- 
habitants that were laid out when this 
map was filed was the road now styled 
Grand Avenue, which ran north to Pali- 
sade Avenue; thence to the old ''Liberty 
Pole Tavern," where one branched off to 
Schralenberg, another southwesterly to- 
ward Teaneck, and one to Tenafly. 

Hudson Terrace was to have been a 
beautiful drive along the margin of the 
Palisades, but for some unfortunate rea- 
son was abandoned. 

The names on this map are those of 
the owners of the land when it was 
filed. Mr. J. Wyman Jones soon con- 
trolled, either by contract or deed, the 
most of these lands, but others soon be- 
came interested with him in the pur- 
chase and development. 



ENGLEWOOD. 43 



XII. 

WELCOMED BY THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS. 

The people that occupied their farms 
in the vicinity of Englewood welcomed 
the new settlers with friendly hospitality, 
and allowed them the freedom of their 
fields and gardens. The following are 
among those who are entitled to thanks 
for assistance rendered the founders of 
this village: 

Thomas W. Demarest, John Van Brunt, 
James Vanderbeek, Garret A. Lydecker, 
Cornelius Lydecker, Henry J. De Mott, 
William H. DeRonde, Solomon Banta, 
J. J. De Mott, R. P. Wurtendyke, and 
many others. 

These gentlemen have always taken a 
deep interest in Englewood affairs. 



44 ENOLEWOOD. 

Mr. Cornelius Lydecker became inter- 
ested at once in the purchase and sale of 
property, and in assisting to advance the 
interests of the town. He was a state 
senator at one time, and became a lead- 
ing politician in Bergen County. 



ENQLEWOOD. 45 



XIII. 

THE CHURCH REMEMBERED. 

A place of worship was one of the first 
things to be thought of after the name of 
Englewood was given to this town. Mr. 
J. Wyman Jones and I. Smith Homans, 
Jr., donated the most beautiful spot in 
the town for a church, which will ever 
remain a monument to their foresight 
and generosity. The little stone chapel 
that stands at the entrance of the Brook- 
side Cemetery was built on the site of 
the present Presbyterian Church, and 
completed in the spring of 1860. 

As time passed on and the numbers of 
worshippers increased, it was enlarged 
twice, but was soon found to be too 
small, when it was removed to the ceme- 



46 ENOLEWOOD. 

tery grounds and re-erected, stone by 
stone. 

The worshippers in the little chapel 
came frcm every point of the compass 
and represented many different denomi- 
nations. There were Episcopalians, Bap- 
tists, Presbyterians, Dutch Reformed, 
and Congregationalists. A meeting was 
called to determine the denomination to 
be adopted. The Presbyterians being in 
a majority that form was decided upon. 
It was organized the 30th day of May, 
I860. A call was immediately placed in 
the hands of the Rev. James H. D wight, 
who had been minister to the Union Con- 
gregation. The call was accepted and on 
the 20th of June, 1860, Mr. Dwight was 
installed first pastor. He continued in 
office until 1867, when in consequence of 
ill health he was obliged to retire and 
seek rest. On the 19th of September, 
1867, the Rev. Henry M. Booth was or- 
dained and installed as minister of this 



ENGLEWOOD. 47 

church. His pastoral relations continued 
twenty -five years with wonderful suc- 
cess. Dr. Booth was very much beloved 
by his people, who parted with him be- 
cause of failing health. His departure 
from Englewood was very much regretted 
by all, without regard to creed or de- 
nomination. Although absent his influ- 
ence remains, and will continue for years 
to come. He was a true Christian 
teacher, whose footsteps led to the cot- 
tage of the poor as well as the mansion 
of the rich. 

This religious society was formed with 
eighteen members from different 
churches. From this body three elders 
were chosen as follows: 

Charles B. Nicholas, James Vander- 
beek, Sheppard Homans. The first 
deacons elected were John J. DeMott and 
J. Wyman Jones. The names of the 
persons organizing this church are as 
follows: Mrs. Isabella S. McCulloch, 



48 ENGLEWOOD. 

M. H. Church, Mrs. Caroline H. Church, 
Sheppard Homans, Mrs. Sallie S. Ho- 
mans, William B. Dwight, Charles A. 
Nichols, Jeffrey A. Humphrey, Mrs. 
Julia F. Humphrey, John E. Jones, Mrs. 
John E. Jones, J. Wyman Jones, Mrs. 
Harriet Dana Jones, Mrs. Margaret 
Fisher, James Vanderbeek, Mrs. Mar- 
garet Vanderbeek, Mrs. Margaret Van 
Brunt. 

The Rev. James H. Dwight came from 
Cherry Valley, New York, where his first 
ministerial work was performed. When 
he came here the outlook was not bril- 
liant for a young minister. His faith in 
the growth of the town was all he had 
to encourage him. The little church he 
started had but seventeen members, but 
through his earnest and devoted labors 
it rapidly increased in numbers until his 
resignation through ill health in 18G7. 
He was much beloved by all his parish- 
ioners who parted with him with regret. 




Rev. James Harrison Dwight. 



ENOLEWOOD. 49 



XIV. 

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FIKST CHUKCH. 

I have before me the original paper 
circulated in October, 1860, by the trus- 
tees of the first church organized in 
Englewood for the purpose of raising 
money to complete and furnish the same 
at once. The names and amounts sub- 
scribed are in the handwriting of the con- 
tributors, and as I survey this time-eaten 
document I am reminded that out of 
seventeen signers but four are living. 
This chapel was occupied seven or eight 
years when it was removed to the ceme- 
tery. I will only copy a part of the 
paper presented for subscribers. It reads 
as follows: "The undersigned trus- 
tees of the Englewood chapel are desirous 



50 ENGLEWOOD. 

of having it completed and warming and 
lighting the same building, the stone 
wall, grading the grounds, etc." This 
amount was raised and the chapel turned 
over to the trustees free from debt. The 
following were the trustees and the 
amounts subscribed: I. Smith Homans, 
Jr., John Van Brunt, J. Wyman Jones. 

SUBSCRIBEKS. 

J. Wyman Jones, $250; I. S. and S. Ho- 
mans, $150; John Van Brunt, $100; 
Nathan T. Johnson, $100; J. A. Hum- 
phrey, $100; C. A. Nichols, $50; B. 
Murray and R. Bayles, $50; George S. 
Coe, $50; F. Howland, $50; John J. De 
Mott, $50; Blauvelt & Bogart, $25; Will- 
iam Blanchard, $25; W. A. Bremer, Jr., 
$10; S. S.Wood, Jr., $10; H. Van Zanclt, 
$10; J. H. Lyell, $10; Hiram Slocum, 
$10. 



ENQLEWOOD. 51 



XV. 

BUILDING IN THE PALISADES FOKEST. 

The first house erected in the forest of 
the Palisades was in the fall of 1860. 
This house was about one-half mile from 
the Hudson Kiver and was built by- 
Nathan T. Johnson. It was framed in 
Boston, brought to the foot of the Pali- 
sades by water, taken to the foundation 
prepared for it and completed. After 
occupying it several years Mr. Johnson 
disposed of it to Colonel Henry W. 
Banks. This house was later destroyed 
by fire and an elegant stone mansion was 
erected in its place by Colonel Banks. 

Mr. Nathan T. Johnson was one of the 
most active and enterprising men ever in 
this town. He gave up his business in 



52 



ENQLEWOOD. 



New York and devoted the rest of his life 
to the advancement of Englewood inter- 
ests. .,. 

Mnch of his time was given to public 
affairs, and he filled many offices of 
public trust; he also became with others 
greatly interested not only in property m 
this village, but in lands beyond the 
borders of the township. He never had 
an enemy and died beloved and respected 
by all. 



ENGLEWOOD. 53 



XVI. 

A LAEGE UNDERTAKING. 

Mr. Nathan T. Johnson, Mr. J. Wyman 
Jones, Mr. I. Smith Homans, and the 
writer undertook in 1861 to purchase all 
the lands on the Palisades, running north 
from the avenue to "Clinton Point," a 
distance of two miles, and extending 
back to the valley. Every farm was 
purchased but one. As the sequel 
proved our prophetic judgment was at 
fault, for the shadows of these forests 
deepened and very little improvement 
followed. 

This is now and always will be a beau- 
tiful spot, and the want of easy comuni- 
cation is the only cause of its remaining 
a forest. 



54 ENOLEWOOD. 

The following is a copy of a legal docu- 
ment signed by these four gentlemen foi 
the purchase and sale of this large tract 
of land. I copy it to show what advanced 
ideas for the future of the Palisades we 
had at that time. The document reads 
as follows: 

"This indenture, made the first day of 
March, 1860, between Nathan T. Johnson 
and Jeffrey A. Humphrey, both of the 
City of New York, parties of the first 
part, and J. Wyman Jones and I. Smith 
Homans, Jr., of Englewood, New Jersey, 
parties of the second part, witnesseth 
that the said parties of the first part have 
heretofore purchased by the agency and 
personal assistance of J. Wyman Jones 
and I. Smith Homans, Jr., comprising 
said party of the second part, several 
parcels of land situate in the County of 
Bergen, fronting on the Palisades herein 
mentioned, for the purpose of selling- 
such lands at an advanced price, and 



ENGLEWOOD. 55 

upon speculation, and such lands were 
purchased under an agreement that the 
said parties of the first part should ad- 
vance and furnish the money for the pay- 
ment of the price thereof, and the parties 
of the second part should attend to the 
purchase thereof, and that the profits 
should be equally divided." The agree- 
ment goes on to describe each parcel 
separately. The price paid fcr said 
lands was from one hundred to one hun- 
dred and fifty dollars per acre. 

The agreement was witnessed and 
signed by each in a legal manner This 
extensive purchase, especially as Engle- 
wood was in its infancy, and as I did not 
know but we might be induced to include 
the whole of Bergen County, rather 
startled me. So in October, 1860, I sold 
out all my interests to Nathan T. John- 
son. Not that I doubted the wisdom of 
the purchase, but being in business in 
New York I concluded to sell my interest 



56 ENGLEWOOD. 

and improve lands in the village. At 
this time the same four gentlemen 
bought three acres of land on Engle 
Street, and built the Englewood House. 

The building of the Englewood House 
was a grand conception, as from its por- 
tals a large percentage of its guests 
issued into homes they had built here 
and became valuable members of its 
society. It has never been in any sense 
a hotel. It has been a family home. It 
has fulfilled its mission by enriching the 
town if it has not always returned large 
dividends to its proprietors. It was the 
real estate exchange of Englewood. 

This house was the social center of 
Englewood for many years, and was the 
means of making the village known to a 
great number who remained and became 
valuable citizens. 

Among the first proprietors was Mr. 
Kingsley, who kept the Irving House in 
Broadway, New York, and later the Con- 



ENGLEWOOD. 57 

tinental in Philadelphia. Many a de- 
lightful social gathering took place at 
this house in these days. 

There was hardly a family in Engle- 
wood twenty years ago that had not 
spent a certain time within its walls. 
Receptions and dancing parties were 
often held here; billiard tables and bowl- 
ing alleys were well patronized. 

Of the many summer hotels that flour- 
ished along the railroad from New York 
to Nyack, the Englewood House was the 
only hotel that escaped destruction by 
tire. Many hotels were erected through 
this valley that are deserving of much 
credit for the part they performed in 
colonizing the different towns from New 
York to Nyack. Many dwellings were 
built in 1860. J. S. Messenger, Henry 
Van Zandt, Mr. Crowell, R. K. Cook all 
built on the avenue west of the Presby- 
terian Church. J. S. Messenger now occu- 
pies the house built by him years ago. 



58 ENGLEWOOD. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

BUILDING A NEW TOWN. 

Englewood having spread her sails for 
a voyage of life, there was a great de- 
mand for mechanics and laboring men of 
all kinds. Houses had to be built for 
the occupation of all sorts and conditions 
of men, and material for their construc- 
tion must naturally be brought from a 
distance. Many inconveniences had to 
be endured for a long time. Wells and 
cisterns must be excavated, fences built, 
hedges, trees and shrubs planted. 

There was scarcely a tree to be seen on 
the land now occupied in this village. 
Our professional men and mechanics 
came from a distance. 

The Rev. James H. Dwight and Wil- 



ENGLEWOOD 59 

liam B. Dwight came from Utica, Mr. 
Fowler from Cherry Valley, Mr. Henry 
Jones, John E. Jones and William 0. 
Davis from Utica. 

In 1860 the valley beween the Teaneck 
Ridge and the Palisades, south to New 
York Bay and Snake Hill was free from 
obstructions of any kind. It was neces- 
sary to import the laboring man. To 
provide him a home a piece of land was 
purchased in the valley, and about a 
dozen small double houses were hastily 
erected. They were scattered over six 
or eight acres of land which might have 
been sold for water lots, as there was no 
drainage, and this land was overflowed 
several times a year. The landlord often 
collected his rent in rubber boots on a 
raft, and often not at all. These scat- 
tered houses were finally removed to a 
less conspicuous locality and look like a 
row of bath houses on a sandy beach as 
you enter the town xrom the south. 



60 ENOLEWOOD. 

One of these houses was once a scene 
of an attempted Irish eviction. The 
landlord found it impossible to collect 
his rent, the New Jersey laws being too 
slow for the owner's purpose. So a car- 
penter was employed to take out the 
doors and windows, remove the roof, 
carry all to his shop and repair them 
sometime. The windows and doors were 
removed, but the spectators increasing 
rapidly, the removal of the roof was 
countermanded. The occupant of this 
humble dwelling stood in the opening 
where the door should have been, using 
language not proper to repeat. The car- 
penter with his load returned to his shop, 
the owner to his other duties, to await 
developments. These came in the form 
of a summons to appear at "Fort Lee," 
as Englewood's justice of the peace had 
not arrived. The landlord appeared be- 
fore Judge Fitzgerald, where, having po- 
litical influence, he came off victorious. 



ENGLEWOOD. 61 

Developments continued, as the owner 
was summoned to appear at Hackensack 
before Judge Knapp. When asked 
whether he was guilty or not guilty he 
pleaded ignorance of the law and escaped 
with a fine of five dollars. This expe- 
rience was enough for a lifetime. The 
landlord ordered the windows and doors 
restored. The tenant left and he was 
happy. 



62 ENQLEWOOD. 



XVIII. 

MALARIA AND MOSQUITOES. 

As New Jersey is said to be the home 
of the mosquito it is not strange that 
upon arriving we found a few in this val- 
ley. We did not encourage or cultivate 
that aggressive, musical insect, as he lives 
on foul air, malaria and human gore. 
Since our town has been thoroughly 
drained and our lawns well trimmed, this 
disturber of our peace has disappeared 
to South Jersey, with headquarters at 
Bergen Point. We had trouble with this 
insect in early days when inviting emi- 
gration to this town, as we all know 
they are the enemy of man and beast, 
have no friends, and are despised by a 
mule. 



ENGLEWOOD. 63 

"Are there mosquitoes in Englewood?" 
was the question asked and repeated by 
all contemplating a residence here. 
Fortunately that question is seldom 
asked to-day. 

Malaria departed about the same time 
as the mosquito, and is seldom heard 
of at the present time. It was disagree- 
ably present for several years after 
Englewood was founded. Want of drain- 
age and bringing decayed vegetable 
matter to the surface caused this nox- 
ious disease to come to the front. This 
is always an objection to emigrants to a 
new location, and Englewood was no 
exception. 

We went as far as the law allowed to- 
ward denyiDg its presence to any extent. 
It never kills but tortures, and one never 
knows whether he has malaria, is tired, 
seasick or in love. This disease does not 
take to civilization, and with our im- 
provements it has disappeared. 



04 ENGLEWOOD. 



XIX. 

WHEN OUR WELLS RUN DRY. 

For a. long time we suffered for want 
of water and drainage. Our tanks were 
supplied from wells and cisterns, as all 
the water used must be pumped to the 
tops of our houses. This often consumed 
the time of our servants many hours 
each day. Our wells frequently ran dry, 
and we were compelled to purchase 
water, paying one dollar for each load. 
We seemed to have long periods of drouth 
in those days, and suffered very much 
for the want of refreshing showers. 
Lawns were almost destroyed, as they 
were newly made. For want of paved 
watercourses and culverts our streets 
and walks were badly washed by fresh- 



ENGLEWOOD. 65 

ets. But we did not complain. The 
seasons went their merry rounds, life had 
a rosy hue. We knew in time all things 
would come to us when we would enjoy 
the fruit of our labors. 

I am not sure but there was far more 
pleasure in that busy life with all its dis- 
comforts than at the present time when 
we have so many comforts at hand and 
so little to do. 



66 ENOLEWOOD. 



XX. 

EFFECT OF THE CIVIL WAR. 

The Civil War checked the growth of 
Englewood for several years, and its in- 
habitants became imbued with the spirit 
of patriotism, when every city, village 
and hamlet turned from peaceful pur- 
suits to war. 

This village made very slow progress 
during the period of the rebellion. 

A military company was formed under 
the captaincy of Nathan T. Johnson. Mr. 
Andrew D. Bogart tendered the second 
story of his carpenter shop on Palisade 
Avenue for a drill room. Some time 
after Mr. W. B. Dwight offered a room 
in his school building. The town was 
on fire with patriotism, and nearl} T all 



ENGLEWOOD. 67 

able-bodied men joined the ranks and ap- 
peared with their muskets regularly for 
drill. Many members of this company 
volunteered, entered the Twenty-second 
New Jersey regiment and marched to the 
defense of their country. 

In the autumn of 1861 the Rev. Mr. 
Dwight obtained leave of absence to 
serve as chaplain of the Sixty-sixth Regi- 
ment of New York volunteers. He was 
presented with a military outfit, includ- 
ing a fine saddle horse, by his friends. 
He entered the army with enthusiasm 
and earned the name of fighting chaplain. 
He served under Burnside, McClellan 
and General Richardson, and acted in 
many capacities as chaplain, aid-de- 
camp, surgeon, etc. He was a brave 
soldier and highly respected by his regi- 
ment. 

Captain William P. Coe, brother of Mr. 
George S. Coe, is a veteran of the Civil 
War, where he saw much hard service. 



68 ENGLEWOOD. 

He entered the army as captain of Com- 
pany A, One Hundred and Sixth New 
York State Volunteers, and was stationed 
under General Banks at New Orleans. 
He was captured in one of the engage- 
ments and suffered twenty-two months' 
imprisonment at Tyler, Texas. Captain 
Coe was in several battles under General 
Banks. He was a stranger to fear, as 
has been proven on several occasions. 

Captain Coe came to Englewood to 
live in 1866, and made his home on 
Teaneck Ridge, near the residence of 
William Walter Phelps. He organized 
and became captain of Company B, 
Second Battalion, National Guard State 
of New Jersey, and brought it to a high 
state of efficiency. 



ENOLEWOOD. 69 



XXI. 

OUR FIEST TONSORIAL PROFESSOR. 

With the different business enterprises 
in the early years came the barber, 
whose life here was a failure. He was a 
half-witted foreigner, who became un- 
popular by his indiscretions and queer 
actions. His departure from town was 
hastened by a gathering of citizens who 
had prepared a bucket of tar and feathers 
for a dress suit. The tar and feathers 
were ready, but in the excitement a few 
citizens took pity on him and ran him 
through a building to the depot, put him 
into a box car and sent him out of town. 



70 ENGLEWOOD. 



XXII. 

A RAILROAD EXPERIENCE. 

I do not recall but one accident on our 
railroad where any one was seriously in- 
jured. In 1860 the down train when 
near New Durham left the track and ran 
some distance over the ties. Every seat 
was destroyed in one car; people were 
thrown in every direction and against 
each other, and many were badly in- 
jured. I was hurled against a red-hot 
stove and received an injury that confined 
me to my house nearly two weeks. We 
had no smoking-car, and several of our 
Englewood boys, not to be deprived of 
their cigars, occupied a box car that was 
not provided with seats or chairs of any 
kind. When the performance was over 
and the doors unfastened these young 
men were found very much mixed and 



ENOLEWOOD. 71 

with many bruises. They were exceed- 
ingly grateful to be released from their 
dangerous position. 

Our trains have been running to and 
fro like a weaver's shuttle for forty 
years, and the history of the road has 
been very free from accidents. 



72 ENOLEWOOD. 



XXIII. 

"the liberty pole tavern." 

One of the most interesting and historic 
landmarks in this neighborhood was the 
old "Liberty Pole Tavern." This old inn 
antedated the Revolution, and was one of 
the numerous Washington headquarters. 
It stood in the center of Palisade Avenue, 
where it intersects the Tenafly road. 
This was the political center for spring 
and fall elections for some years after 
the village was established. The prin- 
ciple liquid that stimulated discussion 
was apple jack, a strictly New Jersey 
business beverage that has practically 
gone out of use. 

The old hotel and bar were always 
wide open on election day, and there was 



ENGLEWOOD. 73 

no limit to the quantity of apple jack one 
might wish to consume. Tickets were 
not deposited in boxes as at present. 
Voters passed in line, calling out their 
names and the ticket they wished to vote. 

Until 1858 the Democrats had no oppo- 
sition and there was but one Prohibition 
vote cast, which was deposited by Mr. 
Coxhead, who came all the way from 
Fort Lee to vote. 

Mr. J. W. Deuell deposited the only 
Republican vote at this time. 

Many exciting scenes took place at 
these elections after the war, and hand 
to hand encounters were frequent. 

One I shall never forget. The war was 
over and soldiers had all returned. 
Spring election was being held at the 
"Liberty Pole Tavern." 

The polls and the bar were both open. 
Apple jack was the rallying spirit, and 
many knockouts were taking place. 

Colonel Jardine, who had returned 



H ENGLEWOOD. 

with the army, appeared on crutches, 
having lost a leg on the field of battle. 

The fighting colonel overhearing a re- 
mark not complimentary to the Union 
soldier, cast aside his crutches, and 
added another victory to his laurels. 

The Stars and Stripes were unfurled 
from the top of the old "Liberty Pole" 
that stood near the hotel on every pa- 
triotic occasion. The old tavern and its 
banner having served their purpose, they 
were removed and the hotel changed to 
a private dwelling, where it stands a 
silent monument of the past, unrecog- 
nized and forgotten. History tells us 
that the old "Liberty Pole Tavern" stood 
on a triangle, on one side of which was 
the tavern, on another Washington's 
headquarters, and on a third a stone 
schoolhouse. This school building was 
taken down and removed 1o Highwood 
in 1848, where it stands at the present 
time. It was removed to a more thickly 



ENGLEWOOD. 75 

settled farming district. Could they have 
looked fifty or even twenty years into 
the future the school building would 
have remained. 



76 ENGLEWOOD. 



XXIV. 

OUR FIRST POSTMASTER. 

Englewood existed some time before it 
was considered worthy of a post office. 
Its citizens were obliged to go to Hacken- 
sack or New Durham for their mail, as 
Englewood was a part of Hackensack 
township until 1871, and the government 
of this community was carried on at 
Hackensack until then. 

Our township extends from the Hack- 
ensack River to the Hudson River, or did 
until reduced by boroughs east and west, 
and was created in 1871. Our first town- 
ship committee was elected April 10, 
1871, consisting of Albert J. Bogart, 
James Venderbeek, Samuel J. Demarest, 
John W. DeRonde, and Peter R. Christie. 



ENQLEWOOD. 77 

The number was afterwards reduced to 
three members. The last committee to 
govern the township was Oliver D. 
Smith, James Harris, and J. M. Gulnac. 
Mr. John Van Brunt was the first post- 
master of this village. He erected the 
large building on the avenue near the 
railroad, in which he kept the post 
office, also the first grocery store. This 
building is now owned, and a part of it 
occupied, by Mr. Henry J. De Mott. 

Offices in this building were occupied a 
long time by Squire Joseph B. Miller, 
who was justice of the peace, magistrate, 
lawyer, trustee of small estates, school- 
master, etc., etc. Squire Miller was 
our protecting power in the early years 
of Englewood. Previous to this period 
he taught school near Schraalenbergh 
two years. He was justice of the peace 
twenty-five years, also was confidential 
adviser and transacted business for a 
great many of the old inhabitants in this 



78 



ENOLEWOOD. 



vicinity. He was judge and jury, prose- 
cuting attorney and general superintend- 
ent of the affairs of the village. He, as 
a rule, discharged the restless element 
with a fatherly reprimand, and was 
most always present to witness the ar- 
rival and departure of trains. For many 
years he occupied a peculiar position— a 
position now extinct. 

Squire Miller was a kind-hearted and 
useful citizen in his day, but his smiling 
face we never shall see again. 

We never have hod the typical "local 
character;" he has become extinct or 
very much modified; education, modern 
society, and death have settled him. 
His dissolution was taking place about 
the time Englewood was founded. It 
was not instantly killed; but died a ling- 
ering death and passed away without 
attracting any notice. But there is a 
satisfaction in knowing that every gener- 
ation is ascending to a higher level. 



ENOLEWOOD. 79 

We have had a number of village 
squires who were guardians of our peace 
for a long time, but their services are no 
longer in demand. 

One we have with us, but he is no 
longer in office. 

Squire Alexander Cass, the veteran 
school-teacher of this vicinity, has had 
a varied experience, having been school- 
teacher, lawyer, justice of the peace, 
county superintendent of schools, sur- 
veyor, etc. , etc. Mr. Cass has long been a 
useful man in all these varied pursuits. 
He, like many others, is living in the past 
and contrasting the government of 
Englewood years ago with that of to-day 
when we are a city with a mayor and 
council, and a court presided over by a 
real judge. Moreover the town is 
patrolled by a large police force. 



80 ENGLEWOOD. 



XXV. 

OUR FIRST PHYSICIAN. 

Among the few that remain of the early 
settlers of this village is Dr. Hardy M. 
Banks, who came here to reside in I860, 
having given up a good practice in New 
York City, where he had already estab- 
lished a reputation as a skillful surgeon. 
There was very little to encourage a 
young physician in a town with so few 
inhabitants, but his prophetic eye saw in 
the near future a prosperous town, and 
he readily joined the pioneers in the set- 
tlement of this village. He was our first 
and only physician for many years — one 
who not only attended to the ills that 
nature is heir to, but identified himself 
at once in public affairs. 



ENGLEWOOD. 81 

He was president and director of the 
Protection Society for five years, and is 
now, after forty years' residence here, 
president of the Gentleman's Club. It 
maybe an evidence of his skill as a phy- 
sician that Englewood did not feel the 
need of a cemetery until 1876, sixteen 
years after his arrival. Forty years have 
come and gone since he entered this 
town and his eye and nerve are still 
steady. He has the confidence and good 
will of the people of this township. 

Dr. Banks is a good sportsman, and a 
lover of dogs that follow the chase. He 
often takes a rest from his professional 
duties by tramping the fields and forests 
in search of game. 

Dr. D. A. Baldwin came to Englewood 
in 1871, and is one of the three physi- 
cians who first settled in this place. He 
immediately entered into a large prac- 
tice, which steadily increased for years. 
He has been a very skillful and success- 



82 ENGLEWOOD. 

ful physician, who has always enjoyed 
the confidence and good will of the best 
families in this town. 

Dr. D. A. Cnrrie came here in March, 
1872, and has always been very success- 
ful as a surgeon and general practitioner, 
which is attested by the large practice 
he has controlled for over twenty-five 
years. 

Dr. Currie has devoted much time in 
the interest of the village. As a road 
commissioner, to which office he was 
elected several times, he gave entire sat- 
isfaction. He was a member of the town- 
ship government until it was succeeded 
by the city government, when he was 
elected mayor. He was captain of our 
militia, and when the Spanish-American 
war broke out was appointed lieutenant- 
colonel, and served in his regiment until 
the close of the war. 



ENGLEWOOD. 83 



XXVI. 

PROSPEROUS TIMES. 

The civil war was ended, peace was 
proclaimed and man returned to his civil 
duties. Englewood took on new life. 
New buildings were erected, new streets 
laid out, wells and cisterns excavated 
and trees planted in great numbers. 

From 1863 to 1868 a great many of our 
most wealthy and enterprising citizens 
made this town their home. Nearly all 
that came at that time remained as per- 
manent residents. They invested in lots, 
and built their own houses or purchased 
from those who had built. Land was 
cheap as well as labor and material, and 
there was never a better opportunity to 



84 ENQLEWOOD. 

turn broad acres into suburban homes 
than here at that time. 

Francis Howland came here in 1861, 
and immediately took a lively interest in 
building up this place. He soon gave up 
his interest in the Cotton Exchange in 
New York, and devoted all his time to 
the interests of this town. He pur- 
chased a large tract of land in the center 
of the village, containing about thirty 
acres and built a fine stone mansion. 
This property he afterward sold to Judge 
Cowan of Washington, D. C. 

Mr. Howland joined I. S. Homans, 
Nathan T. Johnson and William Walter 
Phelps in the purchase of a large tract 
of land. They called it the Three-third 
Account, as Mr. Phelps paid cash for his 
one- quarter interest, leaving the three 
gentlemen engaged with him to assume 
the incumbrances. Mr. Phelps took the 
bull by the tail and not by the horns, 
that he might let go when he had a mind 



ENOLEWOOB. 85 

to as advised by "Josh Billings," the 
lands in time all returned to their origi- 
nal owners. 

After selling his house to Judge Cowan 
Mr. Howland erected a fine stone dwell- 
ing on Lincoln Street. Mr. Howland's 
contribution to the growth of Englewood 
continued many years, and his name 
should be classed with its most enter- 
prising citizens. 

Lebbeus Chapman, Jr., came here in 
1863, and made his home on Teaneck 
Ridge. He entered into every local en- 
terprise that could advance the interests 
of the town. 

He was an active member of the Pres- 
byterian Church, was an officer in the 
Protection and many other societies. He 
was a friend of every one, and could crack 
a joke or talk Blackstone as occasion re- 
quired, and never took a retainer for ad- 
vice given outside of his office. 

Colonel Washington R. Vermilye came 



86 ENGLEWOOD. 

in 1868, and purchased a fine house of 
Mr. Bryan Murray, Jr., on Palisade 
Avenue. He was one of our most liberal 
and courteous citizens, a man of great 
benevolence and upright in all his deal- 
ings. He took a great interest in all 
public affairs, and gave freely when 
called upon. He was a true friend and 
adviser, both in the interest of the church 
and the state. 

Mr. David Hoadley moved to Engle- 
wood in 18C4 and purchased an elegant 
home opposite that of Colonel Vermilye 
on Palisade Avenue. He was a man uni- 
versally loved and respected, a generous 
dispenser of charity and a person of in- 
fluence in the village of Englewood. 

Mr. Daniel Drake Smith came here to 
reside in 1863, and became identified at 
once with the development of the vil- 
lage, took a great interest in its growth 
and gave liberally for the advancement 
of its affairs. He built a delightful 



ENQLEWOOD. 87 

home, the grounds of which occupy 
nearly a block, running from Ly decker 
to Hillside streets. 

Mr. Livingston K. Miller arrived in 
1860, and united at once with the citizens 
of Englewood in every interest that 
would assist in the development of the 
town. He was generous and liberal 
whether in the support of the church, of 
which he was an elder, or in the inter- 
ests of the village. He built a large 
stone mansion on the Knickerbocker 
Road, an estate containing about thirty 
acres, laid out with fine drives and 
walks, a beautiful lawn, fruits and 
flowers. 

Mr. George S. Coe, president of the 
American Exchange Bank in New York 
City, purchased a large tract of land on 
Palisade Avenue, and built a fine house 
which he afterwards disposed of to D. W. 
Evans ; he then ercted a large stone man- 
sion on the Palisades overlooking the 



88 ENQLEWOOD. 

Hudson River. Mr. Coe was a man of 
public spirit and liberality, and was a 
delightful companion. His name was 
never absent when it was called upon to 
assist in the interest of Church or State. 
He was a wise and unselfish man, whose 
sympathies were broad. 

Mr. William A. Booth came to Engle- 
wood in 1866. He had been one of New 
York's most foremost citizens, was one 
of the founders of the Children's Aid 
Society, and was interested in many other 
charities. He was a great acquisition to 
the people of this town. He was a shin- 
ing light for many years, and was ever 
ready with open hand to assist the poor 
and needy or to promote the interests of 
this village. He was a man of large in- 
fluence, and his example and conversa- 
tion were ever safe to follow. 

Mr. William Walter Phelps took up his 
residence in this township in 1868. He 
was a man of large means, of which he 




Ruins of Hon. W. W. Phelps House, Teaneok. 



ENGLEWOOD. 89 

gave liberally for the purpose of elevat- 
ing and ennobling the human race. A 
large estate was purchased by him on 
Teaneck, comprising over two thousand 
acres of land. He became largely inter- 
ested in real estate in Bergen County, 
and his brilliant political career is a mat- 
ter of history. He was a minister to 
Austria and Germany for some time, also 
was elected to Congress two terms. His 
attractive home on Teaneck, which was 
always open to his many friends, was 
destroyed by fire and never restored. It 
remains to-day a charming ruin with its 
crumbling walls overgrown with running 
vines and surrounded by beautiful lawns 
and forest shade. 

The house and the master are no more, 
but his friends will not forget his hospi- 
table board and the many pleasant even- 
ings enjoyed in that delightful home. 

Many miles of macadamized roads, 
through forests and open country, over 



90 ENQLEWOOB. 

hills and through valleys, are enjoyed 
and appreciated by the people of Engle- 
wood. 

General Thomas B. Van Buren was a 
brother-in-law of the Honorable William 
Walter Phelps, and came here to reside 
about the same time. His home was 
near that of Mr. Phelps on Teaneck. He 
was a genial, cultivated man, and a friend 
of all who came in contact with him. 

He was a soldier, a statesman and a 
fine speaker. He was at one time min- 
ister to China and occupied many politi- 
cal positions while a resident in Engle- 
wood. 

Mr. Jacob S. Wetmore took up his resi- 
dence in Englewood in 1867, and evinced 
an active interest in its affairs. He has 
filled many public positions in the village 
government and lias been closely iden- 
tified with all village impovements and 
will be remembered as one of Engle- 
wood's early pioneers and useful citizens. 



ENGLEWOOD. 91 

He has assisted in building up the town 
and still owns much real estate here. 

Mr. Charles A. Nichols became a resi- 
dent here in 1860, and identified himself 
with the founders of the village in all 
their various interests. He was an elder 
in the Presbyterian Church and was one 
of its active and useful members. Mr. 
Nichols was a very genial and interesting 
man in society, and was very highly re- 
spected by all who knew him. 

Mr. James 0. Morse came here about 
1863, bought a fine property on the 
Tenafly road at the head of Demarest 
Avenue of Mr. Solomon Banta. He was 
a useful citizen, one of the founders of 
the gas company, an officer in the Pro- 
tection Societ}% and interested in all 
public improvements. 

Mr. William B. Dana reached Engle- 
wood as a resident in 1866. He pur- 
chased a large tract of land on the Pali- 
sades and built a fine mansion. He took 



92 ENGLEWOOD. 

an active interest in the public road 
board and many other village improve- 
ments. 

The history of Englewood would be in- 
complete without reference to Mr. E. A. 
Brinkerhoff, who came here to reside in 
1874. Mr. Brinkerhoff built a fine stone 
mansion on the corner of Palisade 
Avenue and Lydecker Street, and imme- 
diately united with the citizens of this 
village in the advancement of all its in- 
terests. There is not a society, either 
for charity, education, the church, or 
affairs of the Englewood government to 
which he does not devote his full share 
in time and means. The mantle of Col- 
onel W. R. Vermilye, his father-in-law, 
could not have fallen on better shoulders. 
Mr. Brinckerhoff is one of Englewood's 
most worthy citizens. He is an elder 
and also a trustee in the Presbyterian 
Church, and has devoted much time and 
money to its interests. He is an officer 



ENGLEWOOD. 93 

in many village institutions, and is a 
valuable neighbor and friend. 

Mr. Donald Mackay, of the old bank- 
ing house of Vermilye & Company, New 
York City, deserves an honored place in 
Englewood history. He settled in this 
town in 1867, and at once became ac- 
tively interested in all its affairs. Mr. 
Mackay married a daughter of the late 
Rev. Dr. Daniel Wise, and has for years 
devoted much time and means to the 
promotion of nearly every enterprise that 
has been presented since his residence in 
this town. He is now president of the 
Citizens' National Bank, in which he 
takes a great interest. He was for some 
time president of the Protection Society, 
the Field Club, and the Gentleman's 
Club. Mr. Mackay is a trustee of the 
Presbyterian Church, and has always 
contributed largely to its support since 
he came to reside in Englewood. He 
owns a delightful homeonDwight Place. 



94 ENOLEWOOD. 

Colonel Henry W. Banks came to 
Englewood in 1867 and purchased a fine 
house with several acres of land of 
Nathan T. Johnson. This property is 
situated on Palisade Avenue about a half- 
mile from the Hudson River. 

This was the first house built in the 
forest of the Palisades. It was destroyed 
by fire a few years later and replaced by 
a beautiful stone mansion, where, sur- 
rounded by forest shades, Colonel Banks 
spends his leisure hours. 

He owns a large amount of improved 
real estate in Englewood, and has long 
been identified with all its duties whether 
in the interests in the village government 
or affairs of the church. He is a citizen 
who takes pleasure in sharing the re- 
sponsibilities that surround him. 

In addition to all who have been men- 
tioned the following are worthy of notice : 
Honorable Cullum Sawtelle, Henr} T A. 
Lyman, Charles H. Waterbury, Frank B. 



ENGLEWOOD. 95 

Nichols, E. W. Andrews, William Stan- 
ley, Vincent Tilyou, Kobert J. Hunter, 
R. K. Cook, D. R. Martin, John Bailey, 
T. M. Wheeler, George R. Dutton, S. H. 
Doughty, James L. Dawes, J.Hugh Peters 
William T. Booth, Herbert B. Turner, 
Charles G. Kellogg, Charles A. Trott, 
John H. Lyell, Joseph Lyman, R. H. 
Rochester, Charles A. Piatt, E. C. Dill- 
ingham. These are all men who have 
been long identified with the social and 
moral interests of Englewood. 



% ENGLEWOOD. 



XXVII. 

OUR SCHOOLS. 

Oue sons and daughters were growing 
up and we were not to be deprived of the 
privilege of education. Mr. J. W. Deuell 
had opened a school for boys. The 
public school was too far away to send 
our children. About this time Professor 
August Kursteiner opened a school for 
young boys, which prospered for several 
years. Mr. Kursteiner prepared many 
of our young men for college. He also 
taught music in several private families, 
and he was the first organist of the Pres- 
byterian Church. 

In the spring of 1860 Messrs. Dwight 
and Fowler opened a school for young 
ladies, in a building that stood on the cor- 




Dwight School for Girls. 




ENGLEWOOD. 97 

ner of Palisade Avenue and Engle Street. 
Mr. William B. Dwight of that school 
was a brother of our first pastor. This 
was a boarding school, and it became 
very popular from the start, attracting 
young ladies from several States. Many 
of these young ladies were received into 
Englewood society, and a few married 
and remained here. 

TheKev. Thomas G.Wall succeeded Mr. 
William Dwight, kept the school about one 
year, when it was consumed by fire. Dr. 
Wall built a large school building on the 
corner of the avenue and Hill Side Street. 
He was a very popular man, who became 
interested in Englewood affairs beyond 
his school, and owned at one time a con- 
siderable amount of real estate. His 
successors still carry on this school, and 
it is in a flourishing condition. 

When this village was founded the pub- 
lic school was not forgotten, as it is free 
to all classes of citizens, and of \ast im- 



98 ENOLEWOOD. 

portance in all communities in this age of 
the world's history; as it is about the 
only benefit we receive without paying 
for, we appreciate it. 

The large free school building situated 
on Humphrey Street and Englewood 
Avenue was completed in 1869. There 
was some opposition to its location by a 
few citizens when it was built, but it 
seemed to meet the wants of the greatest 
numbers. 

After a few years an increase of popu- 
lation demanded more room. Larger 
grounds were purchased and the building 
greatly enlarged. This school numbers 
about one thousand pupils, and has 
always been supplied with able teachers. 
Having become too small for its needs, 
several private houses were rented in 
different parts of the district to receive 
the overflow. 

A beautiful stone building was erected 
a few years ago by a few enterprising 



ENGLEWOOD. 99 

citizens on Engle Street, north of the 
village for a boys' high school. This 
school supplies a great want, as it per- 
mits our boys to remain at home while 
preparing for college. 

There is a school building situated at 
Teaneck that has been of great service 
to that neighborhood. This building 
was occupied for Sabbath School in- 
struction for years. Mr. Lebbeus Chap- 
man, Jr., was superintendent of this 
school until his death. He devoted much 
time to his work, and the school is one 
of the monuments that serves to keep 
green his memory for his labor as super- 
intendent of this Sabbath School. 

This Sabbath School work has been 
successfully carried on for' several years 
by George S. Coe, Jr., who is entitled to 
credit for his devotion to its service, 
besides a sacrifice of time and energy. 

Misses Creighton and Farrar are the 
successors of the original Dwight school, 



100 ENOLEWOOD. 

for girls, they having succeeded the Rev. 
Dr. T. G. Wall. This popular and suc- 
cessful school has a very large number 
of scholars and is a credit to the town. 
Its numbers are constantly increasing 
and its present management is a credit 
to its principals. 

Miss Gerrish's Collegiate School for 
Girls has long been a leading school for 
young ladies in this village. It occupies 
the Englewood House, which has been 
recently modernized and refurnished. It 
is a very large and delightful building 
and has a great many scholars that make 
their home with Miss Gerrish. This 
school is very popular and prosperous 
and the instruction very thorough. It 
has two departments, one collegiate 
where girls are fitted for colleges open to 
women and one for scholars who do not 
care to enter college. The instruction 
includes French, German, and instru- 
mental and vocal music. 



ENGLEWOOD. 101 



XXVIII. 

THE HOSPITAL. 

Nokth of the village near the boys' 
high school stands the hospital, a noble 
charitable institution, that has been of 
great benefit to this valley. The thanks 
of many a poor sufferer is due to the 
founders of this institution. The hos- 
pital was erected in 1890. 

A few kind-hearted ladies and gentle- 
men, seeing the great necessity for a hos- 
pital in Englewood, met at the house of 
Miss Adeline Sterling and organized a 
hospital movement. Prominent among 
the movement in the matter who attended 
this meeting were: 

Mrs. Sheppard Homans, Miss Adeline 
Sterling, Mrs. Stephen Clark, Dr. II. M. 



102 ENOLEWOOD. 

Banks, Dr. John A. Wells, Dr. Edward 
Clark, Miss Laura D. Smith, Mrs. Camp- 
bell Mortimer, Mrs. John A. Wells, Miss 
Gerrish, and Mr. and Mrs. William Stan- 
ley, and a few others whose names are 
unintentionally omitted. These ladies 
and gentlemen have continued their in- 
terest and contributed of their time and 
means ever since the hospital was 
founded. 

A board of officers was appointed, con- 
sisting of Mrs. Sheppard Homans, presi- 
dent; Mrs. John A. Wells, vice-president; 
Miss Adeline Sterling, secretary, and 
Mrs. C. Mortimer, treasurer. 

A board of physicians and surgeons 
was duly appointed, consisting of the fol- 
lowing, who gave their services gratui- 
tously and agreed to visit the patients 
daily: 

Dr. D. A. Currie and Dr. H. M. Banks to 
act as physicians, and Dr. Edward Clark 
and Dr. J. A. Wells to act as surgeons. 



ENQLEWOOD. 103 

A fund was soon raised to purchase 
three acres of land opposite the Field 
Club and a suitable building was erected 
at a cost of seven thousand dollars. The 
expenses are met by an appropriation 
from the city, annual subscribers, the 
kindness of people from neighboring 
towns, etc. A training school for nurses 
has recently been established, and there 
are seven now taking the course. 

Over a thousand patients have enjoyed 
the benefits of hospital care, and un- 
doubtedly hundreds of lives have been 
spared to the country by the endeavors 
of those interested in this charity. 

The following comprise the present 
medical board and board of governors: 

Dr. D. A. Currie, J. A. Wells, and Dr. 
Proctor, with attending physicians and 
surgeons. 

Drs. Lansing, Hiiger, Haring and Terry 
comprise with the former gentlemen the 
medical board. 



104 ENGLEWOOD. 

The following comprise the board of 
governors : Mrs. Clinton H. Blake, presi- 
dent; Mrs. J. 0. Clephane, vice-president; 
Lewis Dawes, secretary; George P. Pay- 
son, treasurer, and a board of twenty- 
five governors. 




J 



_^^ 



ENQLEWOOD. 105 



XXIX. 

THE FIELD CLUB. 

Directly opposite the high school 
stands the building erected in 1893 by 
the Field Club. The grounds are used 
for ball, tennis, and golf games. This 
beautiful clubhouse, with its attractive 
surroundings leading into the borders of 
the Palisade forest, which include a 
skating pond, forms a charming picture 
to those who visit the grounds on a pleas- 
ant summer afternoon. This club has 
had many efficient officers, but we cannot 
contemplate this house and its surround- 
ings without giving much credit to Mr. 
Donald Mackay, who has devoted so 
much time and money for its success. 
This club carries us back to the early 



106 ENGLEWOOD. 

days of Englewood, when, notwithstand- 
ing her busy life, she spent some time in 
harmless amusements. The first ball 
ground occupied was about 1862, in the 
valley near the public school. There 
was no canvas or foliage to screen us 
from the- summer's sun, and the only 
seats we had were borrowed from some 
neighboring house. Many members of 
this club were formerly members of the 
best clubs in New York City. From 
these grounds they removed to Palisade 
Avenue, opposite the present residence 
of Mr. E. A. Brinkerhoff. From there 
they went again to the block bounded 
by Engle and King streets and Hamilton 
Avenue. These grounds were aban- 
doned, as they were all wanted for build- 
ing purposes. The first officers of the 
Field Club were D wight A. Jones, presi- 
dent; David W. Evans, vice-president; 
John E. Curren, secretary; Livingston 
K. Miller, treasurer. 



ENGLEWOOD. 107 

The first billiard table imported into 
Englewood was by the writer in 1860. 
This table, although much enjoyed, and 
around which many a real estate trade 
was made, was a very primitive affair. 
It was purchased in New Haven, Connec- 
ticut, from a Mr. Bishop. The bed was 
not marble but composition. It was 
large enough for a small village lot, and 
had six enormous pockets. This table 
rested in the attic of the first house built 
in this village, and gave much amuse- 
ment to all neighbors. 

The example was followed by several 
citizens later on. 

It was not unusual for a family who 
had just completed and occupied a new 
house to be invited to call upon a neigh- 
bor or leave home for some reason, re- 
turn and find his dwelling illuminated 
and occupied by nearly the whole vil- 
lage, who had loaded his table with a 
fine repast. 



108 ENOLEWOOD. 

Old customs that were enjoyed so 
much in those days exist only in mem- 
ory. Such as the general custom of 
New Year's calls, when the whole village 
was moving from house to house until 
late in the evening and then returned to 
their homes, happy to think the custom 
only occurred once in twelve months. 
Glee clubs were formed and Romeos, 
singly or in numbers, spent many a 
moonlight night discoursing sweet 
music to their Juliets. 

The serenading party was sometimes 
invited to enter the house and partake of 
refreshments. Flowers were thrown 
from the windows, or if the Romeo hap- 
pened to be a discarded lover he sang to 
the stars. The mothers and daughters 
remained at home in those days, and 
their dwellings were the center of so- 
ciety, where music and songs were 
always heard. 

The customs of society have made a 



ENGLEWOOD. 109 

radical change, and duties and obliga- 
tions of old days have passed. For 
many years Englewood was too busy to 
enter into outside history, such as the 
colonial fields of autobiography, and to 
sit under ancestral banners, as is the 
custom to-day. We had no women's 
clubs or Daughters of the Revolution at 
that period. 



110 ENGLEWOOD 



XXX. 

ENGLEWOOD GOLF CLUB. 

Early in 1896 a meeting was held by a 
few gentlemen to form a golf club, as a 
general interest in this game had started 
in this country, and Englewood, not to be 
behind the times was among the first of 
the suburban towns to adopt a game 
whose name came from the land of the 
thistle and the clans. It may be safe to 
say that all those present at the meeting 
when the club was formed knew very 
little about the game. 

The founders of golf in Englewood 
were Messrs. E. H. Jewett, E. H. Booth, 
W. W. Burnit, F. Enos, Herbert Copple, 
Charles Neave, H. M. Banks, Thomas 
Thatcher, and W. W. Mackay. 

On the 28th of February, 1896, the 



ENGLEWOOD. Ill 

club was regularly organized and a board 
of governors and officers duly elected. 

A piece of land was leased for the pur- 
pose between Englewood and Nordhoff , a 
small clubhouse was erected, and a com- 
petent professional, Harry Stark, was 
engaged to lay out the course. 

Sixty-one men and fifty-five women 
joined the club the first season. 

In 1897 the grounds were enlarged by 
leasing about fifty acres of land south of 
the old course. A handsome clubhouse 
was erected at an expense of five thou- 
sand dollars and the grounds were put in 
a condition to compare with any nine 
hole in the vicinity of New York. 

The club numbers at present one hun- 
dred and twenty-five men and one hun- 
dred women , and it has decided to increase 
the number to one hundred and seventy - 
five men and one hundred and fifty 
women. Forty-five acres has been 
leased by the club adjoining the present 



112 ENQLEWOOD. 

proper iy, and a full eighteen whole 
course is now in process of completion. 
The clubhouse has recently been en- 
larged and improvements are constantly 
being made. This popular game from 
the land of tweeds and plaids is one of 
the features of Englewood and is very 
accessible to this city, as a trolley passes 
the grounds, and it is in easy walking 
distance. It is in a delightful retired 
situation on the western slope of the 
Palisades, surrounded by a forest on 
the east and peaceful farms sloping down 
to the valley on either side. 

The clubhouse is on an elevation of 
about three hundred feet above the val- 
ley, and the view from its spacious 
piazzas looking west is magnificent, 
making it a delightful place for rest or 
recreation. 

The present board of officers are: 
Thomas Thacher, president; A. T. Enos, 
vice-president; G. H. Burnit, secretary; 
E. P. Ryder, treasurer. 



ENGLEWOOD. 113 



XXXI. 

MUSIC AND SONG. 

In the early days of this village enter- 
tainments were enjoyed within doors 
when music and song were heard in 
every dwelling. Nearly every house had 
a piano, and the air was vocal with music 
as you passed along the streets; family 
gatherings to listen to vocal or instru- 
mental music were a nightly occurrence. 
We had in our village many charming 
voices, both male and female. 

Our churches were all supplied with 
volunteer choirs, and the music was 
never more appreciated than in those 
clays when our houses were all concert 
halls. 

Open air is the craze to-day, and every- 
body is on the run. 



114 ENGLEWOOD. 

A musical club was formed in the early 
days, which was presided over by Pro- 
fessor August Kursteiner, and became 
very popular. Concerts were frequently 
given in the old Atheneum and very much 
enjoyed. 

Echoes of those fine voices often flash 
through the mind, calling back to memory 
Englewood's good old days of music 
and song. 



EmLEWOOD. 115 



XXXII. 

PLANTING TREES. 

In 1860 there were very few trees that 
were the result of chance, and the ab- 
sence of shade caused many to hesitate 
before deciding to locate here. Every 
farm included an apple orchard in full 
bearing, but these orchards soon disap- 
peared. 

Nearly all the maples, evergreens and 
shrubs that give you summer shade 
were planted almost forty years ago. 
The beautiful trees that line our avenues 
and streets to-day are the forethought of 
Englewood's first inhabitants, and came 
from the nurseries of Mr. G. V. Zingsam 
near Hackensack. 

Many of us will ever remember Mr. 



116 ENQLEWOOD. 

Zingsam's kind hospitality, as his cellar, 
stocked wifh foreign wines, was always 
open when we called, and he not only 
escorted as through his beautiful, highly 
cultivated grounds, but welcomed our 
families into his spacious mansion. 

Mr. Zingsam lived to supply many 
towns throughout the county with shade 
and flowers, bat through the devious 
changes of fortune died leaving very 
little to show for his labor. 



ENGLEWMB. 117 



XXXIII. 

FRUIT TREES. 

With our many improvements we did 
not neglect the fruit tree. We planted 
many varieties, but early discovered that 
the pear, apple, and cherry were the only 
kind to succeed in this climate. Nearly 
all our fruit trees came from the Roches- 
ter nurseries. 

There were a few large peach orchards 
near here in 1860, but they were in a de- 
cline, and that delicious fruit soon dis- 
appeared from this part of New Jersey. 

Our enthusiasm led us to experiment 
in all kinds of fruits and flowers until ex- 
perience taught us which to choose and 
which to reject. 

The absence of gardens and florists 



118 ENGLEWOOD. 

compelled us to rely upon our own 
grounds for vegetables and flowers, 
whereas to-day we can purchase 
cheaper than we can produce, and our 
gardens are taken care of by nature. 

Very few people realize what a native 
New Jersey Road is like, or the labor and 
expense it takes to transfer a sand founda- 
tion to one of crushed stone. With the ex- 
ception of the old country road following 
the creek along the valley there were no 
roads except imaginary ones as laid down 
on the first map filed in 1859. Our old 
road board must have expended a quarter 
of a million dollars on the streets of this 
town before it retired. 



ENGLEWOOD. 119 



XXXIV. 

AN OLD ORCHARD. 

What delightful associations cluster 
around an old orchard. It is a wise law 
of nature that in looking back down the 
pathway of life we only see things in 
their most beautiful dress. One of the 
delightful spots I love to rehabilitate in 
memory is an old orchard of my father's. 
I never see it in its cold and leafless un- 
dress, when the chilling blasts of winter 
are sighing through its branches, but 
always in full bloom with their varied 
colors illuminated by the summer sun, 
the air fragrant with perfumed sweets, 
and the voice of a thousand insects. A 
boy who has not experienced this has 
missed much. 

This same scene was re-enacted after 



120 ENGLEWOOD. 

I came to Englewood. All around us 
were old apple orchards. Just west of 
my house on Palisade Avenue an open 
field led to an orchard which extended to 
the present Hill Side Street. Under the 
shades of these old fruit trees we used to 
take our children and pass the hours 
away. The dying remains of these old 
orchards may be seen all over the vil- 
lage, but the gnawing tooth of time has 
nearly completed their destruction, as 
seen in their dead limbs and decayed 
trunks. 

From my window I look out upon a 
half dozen of these old apple trees that 
have hardly life enough to throw out a 
leaf or cast a shadow, but the sight of 
them rings up memories of forty years 
ago. 



"We have all grown old together- 
Thase trees and I, 
And shall depart forever — 
By and by. " 



ENGLEWOOD. 121 



XXXV. 

D KAINAGE. 

The drainage of Englewood was not 
neglected, and few people realize that a 
large sewer, built by the "Citizens' 
Sewer Company," passes under the 
avenue. This sewer runs from the Ly- 
ceum down the avenue to the canal or 
creek below Englewood Avenue. It was 
built many years ago, and has always 
been maintained by private parties, and 
the public know very little about it. It 
was constructed to drain the lands and 
cellars of business blocks on both sides 
of the avenue. Before it was built these 
lands and cellars were constantly flooded. 

This sewer has been a great public 
benefit and ought to be purchased and 
kept in repair by the city. 



122 ENQLEWOOD. 



XXXVI. 

ANTICIPATING WANTS. 

The active mind of the early settler 
led him to anticipate the wants of an in- 
creasing population long before there was 
a necessity for them. Early in the sixties 
a meeting was called to establish a bank. 
Twenty thousand dollars were subscribed 
when the subject was dropped. The 
propriety of establishing a paper was dis- 
cussed when there were but few people 
here. We were constantly anticipating 
enterprises that were sure to come, long 
before they could be supported. 

Nearly every one carried a subscrip- 
tion paper for some enterprise, and no 
one felt offended if appealed to. Lands, 
houses and lots were purchased, sold and 



ENGLEWOOD. 123 

traded on our trains as readily as boys 
trade tops and toys. It was stated that 
one of our enterprising citizens who had 
an impediment in his speech would often 
raise the price of land while trying to 
articulate. 

I will name one instance of rapid ad- 
vance in price of land in these days. A 
gentleman largely engaged in real estate 
purchased several acres in the valley for 
one hundred and fifty dollars per acre, 
and disposed of it within a week for nine 
hundred. Purchasers and those who 
wished to sell were about equally divided 
and a desire to do one or the other was 
shared by all. 

To show the ups and downs of real 
estate before and after the panic of 1873 
I will refer to two events. A party pur- 
chased a piece of land in 1864 on Dean 
Street for one thousand dollars. In less 
than a week, he sold it for two thou- 
sand. His conscience would give him no 



124 ENGLEWOOD. 

rest until he had searched out the party 
he purchased from and returned him one- 
half the profit. The writer sold a lot in 
inflated times for one thousand dollars, 
receiving five hundred cash. It was re- 
turned for the five hundred due; sold 
again for five hundred and returned again 
for two hundred and fifty, which would 
be a fair price for the lot at the present 
time. 



ENGLEWOOD. 125 



XXXVII. 

"the canai, company." 

A company was formed in 1868, to build 
a canal from Palisade Avenue to Nordhoff , 
the head of tide water. The company 
fancied they saw in the near future ves- 
sels of every description, laden with 
lumber, coal and merchandise of all 
kinds, landing at the docks of the "Over- 
peck Canal Company Limited." Allin's 
mill stood in the way, and there was no 
law to compel the owner to yield his un- 
disputed right. Thirty thousand dollars 
were subscribed and twenty thousand ex- 
pended. The writer has before him the 
original subscription book, with the list 
of stockholders and the amounts stand- 
ing in their name. 

The following is a list of stockholders: 



126 ENOLEWOOD. 

William Walter Phelps, Jacob S. Wet- 
more, David Hoadley, Francis Rowland, 
W. R. Vermilye, George S. Coe, L. Chap- 
man, Jr., T. W. Demarest, N. T. John- 
son, H. J. DeMott, Daniel Drake Smith, 
General T. B. Van Buren, W. A. Booth, 
John Van Brunt, Cornelius Lydecker, 
Henry Jones, Patrick O'Tool, J. A. 
Humphrey. Jacob S. Wetmore was 
president; I. Smith Homans, Jr., secre- 
tary George H. Coffey treasurer. 

Of this number there are but six living. 
The stream was dredged, widened, deep- 
ened and straightened. The money ex- 
pended has been returned to the public 
in the drainage of the village. 

The old mill at Nordhoff has disap- 
peared, but too late for the canal. 
Annual meetings were held for several 
years to comply with the law and retain 
the charter, but the company has passed 
into the material that dreams are made 
of and will soon be forgotten. 



ENOLEWOOD. 127 



XXXVIII. 

ROADS. 

Our roads in 1859 were roads of Jersey 
mud and sand. To improve their con- 
dition a road board was organized to lay 
out and macadamize new and old streets, 
lay walks, and improve the thoroughfares 
generally. 

A large amount of money was voted 
every spring to be expended on roads. 
The township was divided into road dis- 
tricts, each district electing its own com- 
missioner. A chairman was elected 
from one of their number to preside over 
their meetings. We are indebted to these 
commissioners for the foundation of the 
roads in Englewood Township. 

When the city government entered 
upon its duties the road board ceased to 
exist. 



128 ENOLEWOOD. 



XXXIX. 

VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY. 

A Village Improvement Society was 
formed in 1868 to take a general super- 
vision over the village, such as lighting 
the streets, planting trees and the re- 
moval of any unsightly refuse that might 
accumulate in the highways and unin- 
closed grounds. 

This society accomplished much to im- 
prove the general appearance of the vil- 
lage during its existence. It assumed 
charge of the lighting of streets, to which 
the citizens contributed a certain amount 
each year. The society also purchased 
oil lamps, and attended to lighting and 
extinguishing the same. 

About this time our fences began to 



ENGLEWOOD. 12 g 

exhibit evidence of decay, and to restore 
them would be quite an expense. For- 
tunately the custom of turning villages 
into parks had become general and the 
removal of inclosures was very popular, 
as fences made good kindling wood. 

We must not forget to give much credit 
to the good ladies of our village, as they 
not only assisted in organizing these re- 
forms but often were instrumental in 
carrying them out. The Improvement 
Society and hospital if not inaugurated 
were greatly helped by them. 



130 ENGLEWOOD. 



XL. 

THE PEOTECTION SOCIETY. 

The unprotected condition of Engle- 
wood and its accessibility to New York 
attracted professional thieves and house 
breakers, as they could so easily escape 
into the forest and down the steep gorges 
of the Palisades to the Hudson River. 
A society for mutual protection was 
formed by an act of the Legislature in 
1869, but many houses had been visited 
when this society was inaugurated. The 
dwellings of Colonel Vermilye, George S. 
Coe, and E. W. Andrews were the last 
entered before the organization of this 
society. At that time Mr. Andrews had 
an unpleasant experience. The burglar 
appeared at his bedside and hurled a 



ENGLEWOOD. 131 

steel jimmy at his head, just missing 
him. Securing a revolver Mr. Andrews 
sent a ball after the housebreaker as he 
retreated down the stairs. 

The house of the writer had a mild ex- 
perience with a burglar, but as he was 
securely locked in his room and the 
burglar overturned a chair and retired in 
haste, upon entering the house, no 
loss or harm came to the owner. The 
affair was soon forgotten. 

We had many experiences of this kind 
until an armed society arose and caused 
men of housebreaking tastes to disap- 
pear. We often armed our servants and 
placed them on guard. The house of 
William King on Chestnut Street had 
been entered several times. He made a 
bed of a lounge in a room just off from 
the hall on which his man servant slept 
with pistol in hand. A robber entered. 
The servant was too much frightened to 
move. The thief packed up his secu- 



132 ENQLEWOOD. 

rities in a sheet and threw them out of 
the parlor window. The servant was not 
tried for murder. 

Mr. James McCulloh was the first 
president of the Protection Society. He 
was a man fearless of danger and had 
many personal encounters with men of 
all grades of thievish propensities. In 
one of his early experiences he arrested 
a thief one dark night, tied his hands to 
the stirrup of his saddle, as he was on 
horseback and marched him to the "lock- 
up." At another time he took two 
thieves to his house, placed them in his 
parlor, handcuffed them, armed his son 
and placed him in charge until morning. 

Mr. McCulloh's exploits by night and 
day, in sunshine and fierce storms 
would fill a large volume. 

William Hill was our chief marshal at 
that time, and as he had the acquaintance 
of many New York detectives and also on 
the police force, he was placed in a posi- 



ENGLEWOOD. 133 

tion to be informed in advance of in- 
tended visits from law breakers. 

I will relate an instance where about 
thirty State Prison convicts were turned 
out of Sing Sing by two New York pals, 
and a number of them fell into the arms 
of our marshal. 

A burglar by the name of Kingsland, 
sentenced to Sing Sing for several years, 
was released by his friends in the follow- 
ing manner. Two of them living in New 
York captured a tug with a pilot on board 
and^ at the point of revolvers compelled 
him to take them to the prison dock at 
Sing Sing. Kingsland, whose escape had 
been planned, boarded the boat, and be- 
fore they could leave the dock twenty- 
five convicts leaped into the tug, crossed 
the river and scattered to the woods. 
Big Kid and Kingsland, after securing a 
change of clothing, started to New York 
via Englewood. They appeared at Tay- 
lor's livery stable about 6 o'clock p.m. 



134 ENOLEWOOD. 

The marshal was informed that two 
men looking suspicious were at Taylor's 
stable with a jaded horse about to start 
to Fort Lee. Mr. Hill sent to Dr. Banks, 
a marshal of the society, who joined him 
and followed the convicts, drove past 
them near Fort Lee, alighted from their 
carriage and questioned them. Being 
satisfied that they were dangerous char- 
acters they arrested and returned with 
them to Englewood. Reports came from 
New York to hold them. They were 
locked up, and nine who had escaped 
with them appeared and were taken 
that night, and the next morning as they 
were trying to pass to New York from 
the Jersey side of the river. 

Not caring to wait for extradition 
papers Mr. Hills and Dr. Banks went to 
Alpine, crossed the river and landed 
them in Sing Sing. Big Kid, the bandit 
of the tugboat, was an escaped convict. 

This society became a terror to evil- 



ENGLEWOOD. 135 

doers faraway, who notified their friends 
to keep out of Englewood. It cast a 
mantle of protection over all its mem- 
bers, which included nearly every 
family in the town. 

It is still in existence, but at no ex- 
pense to any one at present through the 
kindness and liberality of its president, 
Mr. Donald Mackay . The present board of 
officers are: President, Donald Mackay; 
vice-president, Clinton H. Blake; secre- 
tary, Charles F. Park. 

The first board of officers in 1869: 
President, James W. McCulloh; vice- 
president, Dr. Hardy M. Banks ; treasurer, 
W. Hart Smith; secretary, Daniel W. 
Leeds. 

Directors, James W. McCulloh, Cor- 
nelius Ly decker, Nathan T. Johnson, 
Lebbens Chapman, Jr., Hardy M. Banks, 
R. K. Cook, Daniel G, Bogart,W. P. Coe, 
W. Hart Smith. 

The marshal of this society was invested 



136 ENGLEWOOD. 

with power to arrest any one within the 
limits of the State of New Jersey who 
shall have violated its laws within the 
township. This society wr s very useful 
and it was conceived and conducted by 
our best citizens. 

It is hard for the residents of the city of 
Englewood to get a glimpse of the tilings 
which were so real to us who were here 
in the early days of its existence, but 
now have almost become shadows. 1 
wish I could illuminate this page of his- 
tory with a light that would show Engle- 
wood as it appeared to us in those early 
years. 



ENGLEWOOD. 137 



XLI. 

AN EXCITING INCIDENT. 

In the summer of 1862 I took an early 
morning drive to show the beauties of 
the Palisades to some friends who were 
spending a few days with us. We drove 
up the avenue to the river, then turned 
north in the direction of Alpine on a road 
at that time called Hudson Terrace. 
After driving about a mile we made a 
sudden turn in the road, nearly running 
down a suspicious-looking character with 
a large well-filled carpetbag in his hand. 
He passed in front of us like the wind, 
and disappeared down a thickly wooded 
gorge that led to the river among the 
bushes. 

He appeared and disappeared so sud- 



138 ENLOEWOOD. 

denly that he seemed like a materialized 
shadow. His satchel dropped from his 
hand, and its gaping mouth showed 
conclusively that its contents came from 
some burglarized dwelling in the valley. 

We were very much surprised, and did 
not stop to investigate the contents of 
the bag, but drove rapidly on until we 
thought it safe to return. 

We retraced our steps back to the 
gorge, but the burglar and bag had dis- 
appeared, and all was quiet. After 
watching a short time we observed a boat 
pulling from the shore at the bottom of 
the ravine, with two men in charge, and 
move rapidly to the middle of the river. 

It was reported that a house had been 
entered in the village the previous night. 



ENGLEWOOD. 139 



XLII. 

THE OLD KAVINE. 

Foe several years after the village was 
settled Palisade Avenue was divided by 
a beautiful wild ravine. It was a pictur- 
esque, romantic spot that remains a 
pretty picture in the memory of those 
who lived here at the time. It was 
directly opposite the Presbyterian 
Church, and was quite deep. A running 
stream entered it from the church 
grounds and after passing merrilV 
through it disappeared under the 
avenue. 

This stream reappears in view in Dr. 
Currie's grounds at the present time. 
The ravine was filled with chestnut trees, 
shrubs and wild flowers. This romantic 



140 ENOLEWOOD. 

spot had its day and remains a pleasant 
recollection. But its interment seemed 
like the burial of an old friend to many, 
but sentiment had to give way. 

Many of our best citizens visited that 
spot as it was being obliterated and 
turned away with sadness. One of our 
best and most esteemed citizens was so 
grieved over it that he actually left En- 
glewood for a month to forget its destruc- 
tion. 

One of our most esteemed ladies de- 
clared that she would leave Englewood 
and never return. 



ENGLEWOOD. 141 



XLIII. 

THE LITTLE PAKE NEAR THE DEPOT. 

A well remembered spot was a small 
park-like inclosure in the center of the 
avenue opposite the present post office. 
It was filled with shade trees and sur- 
rounded by a railing where people could 
lounge, talk politics and fasten their 
horses while waiting for trains. 

As the little frame depot was about 
the only building near it for some time 
it was like a small park in an old New 
England village, where people assembled 
from miles around the country to see 
friends off on the train or wait for their 
return. It was a pleasant meeting place, 
especially in summer, as it was delight- 
fully shaded with elms and maples. At 



142 BNGLEWOOD. 

that time this little park-like grove so 
near the depot was appreciated, as there 
were no trees bordering the streets or 
avenues. Many of our enterprising citi- 
zens while building new homes in the 
village were camping in hired farmhouses 
some distance out of the center of the 
village and drove to and from the trains, 
and this little park was a picnic ground, 
where people met their friends and 
neighbors. 

Buildings began to arise around the 
park. The shadow of a city was appear- 
ing and the subject of removal began to 
be discussed. From that time its doom 
was sealed. It had many friends who 
were very much opposed to its destruc- 
tion, but a majority ruled and this pleas- 
ing picture was removed from the map of 
our village. 



ENQLEWOOD. 143 



XLIV. 

"the old sawmill." 

It was but a few years ago that an old 
sawmill, with its race of rapid running 
waters, occupied a beautiful site, lying 
among the shadows of overhanging trees, 
directly opposite the Brookside Ceme- 
tery, west of Engle Street. Its waters 
were supplied by two little laughing 
streams, whose eddies and dimples re- 
flected back the foliage that hung over 
their borders. These streams unite, 
after passing under tw T o stone bridges on 
Engle Street. Many of us will remem- 
ber this old mill, as it was in full opera- 
tion long after the birth of Englewood, 
but was finally abandoned. 

The dam was removed, its pent-up 
waters allowed to depart, and the old 



144 ENQLEWOOD. 

wheel has made its last revolution. This 
old mill after standing deserted and 
alone a few years was removed by the 
lighted torch of some bad boy or careless 
tramp. When I think of these old relics 
of the past I am reminded of the time 
when every village and hamlet supplied 
the people with mill products from the 
local "mill," and as a rule a distillery 
was supplied by the same pure water, and 
the farmer furnished the material. The 
miller received his pay or "toll" in grain. 

Do you remember the old mill, 
From the bridge we used to hear 

Waters that were never still, 

Whose gentle murmur pleased the ear. 

The wheel has ceased its merry round, 

The mill has fallen to decay, 
From the dam no pleasing sound 

Longer rises with the spray. 

The stream has found its native bed, 
A solemn stillness all around, 

The birds are silent overhead, 

On either hand a burying ground. 




Old Mill, Engle Street. 



ENGLEWOOD. 145 



XLV. 

AN OLD ICE POND. 

It is not generally known that the old 
ice houses that stood on the corner of 
Demorest Avenue and the railroad so 
many years after Englewood was settled 
were used for a year or two after we 
came as a gristmill, when the houses 
were transferred into ice houses for 
storing the ice that was taken from the 
pond. Our summer drinks were cooled 
with ice from that small body of water 
several years. 

Finally public opinion and the press 
found a cause for its removal. This 
pond was supplied by two little streams 
that came down from the mountains, 
passed around and nearly encircled a 



146 ENOLEWOOD. 

beautiful wooded knoll. After passing 
under two stone bridges they united and 
danced in company down the valley as 
they had for centuries, all unconscious 
of the danger that was lurking in their 
smile. 

This shady and retired spot around 
which these streams found their way was 
selected by the people of Englewood for 
a cemetery. It was soon whispered 
about that the two little streams that 
united their melody might be made im- 
pure by their association with the Brook- 
side cemetery. Ideas and emotions ac- 
quire contagious force by a whisper, and 
a hint from the press was sufficient to 
start a sentimental panic. From that 
time the ice pond was doomed. The 
dam was removed and the waters re- 
duced to a small stream. It was an un- 
sightly object until vegetation had 
clothed its muddy bottom and the sun 
had drawn its malarial fangs. Soon 



ENGLEWOOD. 147 

after this a flash of light revealed the 
flames that destroyed the old ice houses. 
Public sentiment was satisfied, but an 
individual suffered loss. 

The fateful hand of time has swept 
away all these ancient landmarks, forty 
years have come and gone, like breakers 
on the shores of time. Englewood has 
had its summer skies and winter storms, 
but Time's withering hand has only re- 
moved useless relics, new and more 
beautiful buildings arise, and nature 
remains with her everlasting vitality. 



148 ENGLEWOOD. 



XL VI. 

THE PRESS. 

Until 1861 all attempts to establish a 
paper in Hackensaek township had been 
a failure. The Bergen County Journal, 
a union paper, made an unsuccessful 
effort to succeed, but went down in 1861. 

In the fall of that year Mr. Eben Win- 
ton joined Mr. C. C. Burr and issued the 
Bergen County Democrat. In March, 1862, 
Mr. Winton purchased the interest of Mr. 
Burr, and the paper became a success. 
In 1874 Mr. Eben Winton founded the 
Englewood Times, and published it as a 
non-partisan paper. Mr. Winton became 
very popular with all parties, and this 
paper was well received. 



ENOLEWOOD. 140 

In 1879 a new "Richmond" entered the 
field and came to staj^. Mr. Joseph H, 
Tillotson, a man of energy and persever- 
ance, established the Standard, and 
managed it with such ability that Mr. 
Winton was glad to transfer the Engle- 
wood Times to his ownership in 1884. 
The two journals were then united under 
the title of Standard and Times. In 1886 
the name of Standard was dropped and 
the paper assumed the name of Engle- 
wood Times. 

March 29, 1890, Mr. Tillotson disposed 
of the Times and established the Engle- 
wood Press, which has met with far 
greater success than any of its predeces- 
sors. Mr. Tillotson is a courteous and 
affable man, who is always willing to 
give and receive information; attends 
strictly to his business, has the confi- 
dence and good will of the citizens of 
this town and has from the beginning 
met with uninterrupted success. 



150 ENGLEWOOD. 

The Englewood Times was first issued 
in 1874 by Mr. Eben Winton as a non- 
partisan paper. It met with immediate 
success, which has continued until this 
day. In 1879 Mr. J. H. Tillotson bought 
out Mr. Winton. In the spring of 1890 
he sold the Times to Mr. H. M. Litchten- 
berg, who issued it a few years, when 
he disposed of it to Mr. W. H. Eicks in 
1893. Mr. Eicks sold it to John P. 
Stockton, who disposed of it to the Times 
Publishing Company in 1895. The Times 
is a very enterprising and well-conducted 
paper at the present time. 



ENGLEWOOD. 151 



XLVII. 

ENGLEWOOD SEWER COMPANY. 

The Englewood Sewer Company was 
organized in 1887. This company lias 
always been under good management 
and was a welcome sanitary relief. 
There is no doubt but what water and 
sewerage has been the means of bringing 
to this village a large increase of pop- 
ulation. The first officers were: Direc- 
tors, J. S. Wetmore, Dr. D. A. Currie, 
Samuel F. Gold, Oliver Drake Smith, R. 
H. Rochester, George W. Betts, R. P. 
Wurtendyke ; Oliver Drake Smith, secre- 
tary and treasurer; Samuel F. Gold, 
superintendent. 



152 ENGLEWOOD. 



XLVIII. 

A SWISS MOUNTAIN ROAD. 

An enterprise that cost a large amount 
of money flourished for awhile and then 
expired was the "Palisades Road and 
Turnpike Company." 

It was a stock company and the road 
was built to accommodate the patrons of 
the "Mountain House," a large summer 
hotel on the brow of the Palisades, also 
to turn travel from the valley to the 
Hudson River. This road was built 
after the manner of zigzag roads in 
Switzerland, and was well patronized for 
some time. 

It was a toll-gate road, and a stage ran 
from the hotel to the river, also from the 
village of Englewood. A fine dock was 



ENOLEWOOD. 153 

built, where two boats called daily for 
passengers. 

A footpath was made to accommodate 
those who desired to climb. After pay- 
ing a few assessments the stockholders 
abandoned the road. The boats ceased 
running, and traveling in that direction 
became a thing of the past. It was also 
found to be more business than pleasure. 
Before the Mountain House was de- 
stroyed a company was formed with 
sufficient capital to build a steam eleva- 
tor to take passengers by more rapid 
means than by the Swiss road. This 
means of conveyance never matured, as 
the destruction of the hotel checked 
travel in that direction. This was the 
last effort to colonize the top of the Pali- 
sades. 

The Mountain House, which was so 
important to the Swiss road, to the docks, 
and also to the building-up of that neigh- 
borhood, was built in the spring of 1860. 



154 ENGLEWOOD. 

It was a very imposing structure, and 
could be seen a long distance up and 
down the river. It accommodated a 
large number of summer boarders, and 
was crowded every season for several 
years. Mr. Hammond, of the Murray 
Hill and Plaza Hotels, New York City, 
leased it. It was consumed by fire 
several years ago and never rebuilt. 

This line hotel was owned by William 
0. Allison, who built a magnificent stone 
mansion on the brow of the mountain 
near the ruins of the hotel, where he re- 
sides. Mr. Allison was born under the 
shadow of the Palisades, near where he 
now resides, but by his own exertion and 
ability has risen to wealth and position. 
He has climbed from the foot to the top 
of the mountain. 



ENGLEWOOD. 155 



XLIX. 

NEW YORK AND NEW JEESEY BRIDGE 
COMPANY. 

Very few of our citizens know that the 
charter for a bridge across the Hudson 
River originated in Englewood, and was 
obtained over thirty years ago. Two 
bills were presented to the Legislature 
of New Jersey at the same time, one 
from Hudson County and one from Ber- 
gen. A fierce contest took place between 
the two interests. The Bergen County 
bill was, by a fine piece of strategy, suc- 
cessful. This bill was introduced by 
Cornelius Lydecker, Nathan T. Johnson, 
and others. Mr. Culver had charge of 
the unsuccessful bill. Mr. Culver, being 
anxious for an interest in the charter, 



156 ENGLEWOOD. 

purchased in the interest of several of 
the incorporators of the Bergen County 
bill. Messrs. George S. Coe, J. Wyman 
Jones, Cornelius Lydecker and others 
were incorporators. That charter was 
revived nearly thirty years after this 
period. Mr. Culver, who is interested 
in the present Hudson River bridge 
charter, purchased his interest in said 
charter from residents of this town about 
1868. 



ENGLEWOOD. 157 



L. 



CELEBRATING THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT 
GRANT IN 1868. 

The election of General Grant as Presi- 
dent of the United States in the fall of 
1868 was an occasion of a great public 
demonstration by the citizens of Engle- 
wood to show their patriotic regard for 
the great captain who had restored the 
Union to peace and happiness. 

A grand procession was inaugurated 
by the citizens of Englewood to celebrate 
the occasion. Houses were illuminated 
and decorated with the national colors, 
and such patriotic enthusiasm has never 
been exhibited in this village since. 

Colonel Henry W. Banks was grand 
marshal, and Lebbius Chapman, Jr., 
chief of staff. 



158 ENGLEWOOD. 

The order of procession will interest 
our citizens. It was as follows: 

1. Grand marshal and staff. 

2. Seventh Regiment band. 

3. Citizens on foot. 

4. Orators of the day in carriages. 

5. Citizens of Englewood mounted. 

6. Organization from Hackensack. 

7. Organization from Paramus. 

8. Organization from Paterson. 

9. Other organizations. 

10. Citizens of Englewood in carriages. 

LINE OF MAKCH. 

First — The line will be formed on Pali- 
sade Avenue, right resting on the rail- 
road. 

Second — Chief of organizations intend- 
ing to take part will report to the grand 
marshal or chief of staff at De Mott's 
store. 

Third — The column will move as soon 



ENQLEWOOD. 159 

after the arrival of the 2 : 30 train as the 
grand marshal shall deem proper. 

Fourth — The line of march will be 
through Palisade Avenue, Lydecker, 
Chestnut, Engle Street and Humphrey 
Street, to the ball ground,, 

Fifth — The following are aids to the 
grand marshal, and will be respected ac- 
cordingly by Lebbius Chapman, chief of 
staff: George S. Coe, Tappan Hoadley, 
C. H. Tomes, T. S. Taylor, J. A. Hum- 
phrey. 

Sixth— The staff will report mounted 
to the grand marshal at De Mott's store 
promptly at 12: 30 p.m. 

Henky W. Banks, Grand Marshal. 
Lebbius Chapman, Chief of Staff. 

I have quoted the above, and hand it 
down as a legacy from the fathers of 
Englewood to their children. Of the six 
staff officers but one is living. 



1G0 ENGLEWOOD. 



LI. 

A SURRENDER TO OUR FLAG. 

I will relate a single incident that took 
place at the Englewood House in the 
summer of 1865. Two young gentlemen, 
formerly from the South, were spending 
the summer at this house. The windows 
and doors were draped with the Ameri- 
can flag on the day when the great pro- 
cession welcomed the return of our sol- 
diers. 

Our Southern friends refused to make 
their egress or exit under the American 
flags that draped the doors and windows. 
A committee of gentlemen was appointed 
to wait upon them, and demand that they 
decorate themselves with the Stars and 
Stripes, and walk under the American 




Rev. Henry M. Booth, D. D. 



ENGLEWOOD. 161 

flag or pack their trunks and take their 
departure from town at once. As they 
desired to remain in Englewood they 
complied with the request, joined the 
others in the celebration and exhibited 
no more evidence of disloyalty. 



162 ENQLEWOOD. 



LII. 

A REVIVAL OF BUSINESS. 

Foe several years after the close of the 
war Englewood improved rapidly. 
Houses went up in great numbers, and 
money was plenty. The Atheneum, a 
large public building with a public hall, 
shops and offices, was built in 18G8. 
This building stood on the corner of the 
Avenue and Engie Street. It was burned 
several years ago. The post office and 
several stores occupied the first story. 
It was completed in 1870. The rapidity 
with which the stock was taken showed 
the public spirit and liberality of the 
people at this period. Thirty -five thou- 
sand dollars was the amount originally 



ENGLEWOOD. 163 

subscribed, but the plans and specifica- 
tions called for seventy thousand. 

A meeting to consider the subject was 
held in the parlors of the Englewood 
House. At this meeting it was resolved 
to raise forty -five thousand dollars in 
cash and place a mortgage on the build- 
ing for the balance. A committee was 
appointed with power to go on and erect 
the building without delay. At its com- 
pletion a mortgage was placed on the 
property of eighteen thousand dollars. 

The loan was obtained from the Mutual 
Life Insurance Company. A second 
mortgage was afterward placed for a 
small amount. 

When this was completed the "hall" 
was opened with the greatest number of 
people that ever assembled within its 
walls on a similar occasion. Clara 
Louise Kellogg was to appear in concert. 
The seats were all sold, and standing 
room was at a premium. 



164 ENQLEWOOD. 

This building flourished until the panic 
of 1873, when the stock fell from fifty to 
nothing. One gentleman purchased 
nearly all of the stock. Two of the three 
gentlemen who were bondsmen on the 
first mortgage had died, and the third 
one paid the Mutual Life, who loaned the 
money. The building was burned soon 
after, and the insurance realized very 
little more than enough to satisfy the 
bondsman who paid off the first mort- 
gage. This building never was a suc- 
cess. Its architectural construction was 
bad, and it never was safe, as it was a 
frame building. In the event of fire dur- 
ing a performance exit would be very 
difficult, and might have caused a panic. 
Its destruction by conflagration was not 
regretted. 



ENQLEWOOD. 165 



LIII. 

A NEW PRESBYTEEIAN CHURCH. 

In June, 1867, a committee was ap- 
pointed to consider the subject of build- 
ing a new church. This committee con- 
sisted of Messrs. J. Wyman Jones, Liv- 
ingston K. Miller, L. Chapman, Jr., Wil- 
liam Walter Phelps, and Nathan T. 
Johnson. The committee presented a 
report stating the amount raised as 
nearly twenty-five thousand dollars. 
Plans for a stone edifice were presented 
at the same time. A building committee 
was appointed consisting of J. Wyman 
Jones, George S. Coe, James Vander- 
beek, Washington R. Vermilye, and 
J. A. Humphrey. 



166 ENOLEWOOD. 

Mr. Livingston K. Miller was made 
treasurer. On the 17th of April, 1870, 
the congregation worshipped for the first 
time. The entire cost of the church was 
about fifty thousand dollars. David 
Hoadley presented the church with an 
organ costing about thirty-five hundred 
dollars. 

At the completion of the church a debt 
of fifteen thousand dollars remained. 
Colonel Vermilye was very anxious that 
the church should be free from debt and 
offered to contribute five thousand dol- 
lars if the church would raise the 
balance. This offer was increased to ten 
thousand dollars, when the balance was 
raised and the church, one of the finest 
in New Jersey, has always been free from 
debt. 

After the death of Colonel Vermilye 
his only daughter, Mrs. E. A. Brinker- 
hoff, erected a beautiful memorial chapel 
in his memory. She furnished it com- 



ENGLEWOOD. 167 

pletely and has always kept it in perfect 
repair. The officers of this church at 
this time were: 

Elders, Livingston K. Miller, Frank B. 
Nichols, James Vanderbeek; deacons, 
John J. De Mott, Bryon Murray, Jr., 
Jeffrey A. Humphrey; trustees, Lebbeus 
Chapman, Jr., James 0. Morse, Charles 
H. Waterbury; treasurer, Bryon Mur- 
ray, Jr. 

It may interest the public to know 
what this church was contributing for 
charitable and other purposes during the 
first twent} T -five years of its existence. 
The total amount of receipts for all pur- 
poses were three hundred and eighty- 
seven thousand dollars or nearly fifteen 
thousand for each year. 

An exhibit of a few years separately 
will be interesting: 1861 receipts were 
$3,179; 1865, $2,571; 1870, $10,234; 1871, 
$26,000; 1875, $15,000; 1880, $14,000; 
1885, $13,000. 



108 ENGLEWOOD. 

This is a good showing when we con- 
sider that the twenty-five years include 
many early years when there were but 
few inhabitants. 

On the 18th of March, 1891, a call was 
extended to the Rev. James Eells which 
was accepted, and on the 24th day of 
September he was installed as minister. 
Mr. Eells occupied the pulpit until the 
spring of 1898, when he resigned to ac- 
cept a call from a church in Boston. 

The church was without a pastor until 
March, 1899, when Dr. Samuel M. Hamil- 
ton of Louisville, Kentucky, received 
and accepted a call, and now occupies 
the pulpit of this church. 



ENGLEWOOD. 169 



LIV. 

A METHODIST CHUKCH. 

The Methodist Church was dedicated 
in December, 1863. The Rev. E. Hewett 
was installed its first pastor the follow- 
ing January, who has been succeeded by 
many successful preachers. The Rev. 
Dr. Wise became a resident here Decem- 
ber, 1863, and through his efforts services 
were held. Dr. Wise was a great acqui- 
sition to the town, as he was a very elo- 
quent, scholarly and earnest preacher; 
moreover he was a brilliant writer, his 
literary talents being of a high order. 

Moses E. Springer was one of the prin- 
ciple organizers of the church, and has 
always taken a deep interest in its affairs. 
Mr. Springer was one of Englewood's 



170 ENOLEWOOD. 

early citizens. He has built several 
houses and filled many important offices 
of public trust. R. A. Gorham, an old 
and esteemed resident, has always been 
active in the Methodist Church, and is 
one of its earnest workers. 

The Rev. J. W. Dalley is its present 
pastor, and is a very active and earnest 
preacher, and very much esteemed by 
his people. An extended residence here 
would be gratifying not only to his peo- 
ple, but to citizens of the town. 



ENOLEWOOD. 171 



LV 

THE CATHOLIC CHUKCH. 

The Catholic Church was built in 1866. 
Until that date we were obliged to send 
our help to Fort Lee in our own car- 
riages in order to retain them in our em- 
ploy; that was the nearest church of 
that denomination. Many people of that 
church walked back and forth — a dis- 
tance of two and one-half miles each 
way. Our citizens were willing con- 
tributors to a fund to build a Catholic 
Church as to send to Fort Lee every Sab- 
bath was very inconvenient. This 
church building was very much enlarged 
in 1868. 

The church has a very large member- 
ship, and has had many acceptable pas- 



1?2 ENGLEWOOD. 

tors connected with it, and under its 
charge is a parochial school, and many 
societies that bring together and elevate 
their people. Father Smith was its first 
pastor. He spent several years here, 
and was much beloved. 



ENQLEWOOD. 173 



LVI. 

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The Episcopal Church was built and 
the church organized in 1865. The 
money was quickly subscribed to 
complete the edifice. Every public 
spirited citizen in Englewood took an 
interest in its construction as they had 
in everything that contributed to the 
growth of the town. The Rev. 0. W. 
Whittaker (now bishop) was its first 
pastor. He was a very successful 
preacher, and his people parted from 
him with regret. He became the friend 
of all denominations, who esteemed him 
highly. He was followed by the Rev. 
W. S. Langford, the Rev. John W. Paine 
and others. 



174 ENGLEWOOD. 

The first wardens were: E. W. An- 
drews, Charles T. Chester, William 
King, John H. Lyell, Herbert Turner, 
Richard K. Cook. This church has had 
a steady growth from the beginning, and 
its members are very much devoted not 
only to the church but to each other. 

Having outgrown the present church 
building a new and larger one is about to 
be erected for its worshippers. The 
present minister, the Rev. G. F. Flicht- 
ner, is very highly esteemed, and is a 
very popular and successful rector. 



ENQLEWOOD. 175 



LVII. 

A PICNIC ON THE PALISADES. 

Expeeience has taught visitors to the 
rocky heights of the Palisades to ap- 
proach the dangerous steeps with caution. 
Before the lesson was learned many 
serious accidents had occurred. Ander- 
son's terrible fall from the top of the 
Palisades a few years ago will long be 
remembered by all living in Englewood 
at the time it happened. A company of 
young ladies and gentlemen had gathered 
near a gorge on the mountain to enjoy a 
summer afternoon in this shady spot. 
While in the full enjoyment of the oc- 
casion, young Anderson, in moving 
around, stepped on some running vines 
that carpeted the top of a gorge, think- 



176 ENQLEWOOD. 

ing he was on solid ground, and fell two 
hundred and fifty feet. It was con- 
sidered miraculous that he could take 
such a plunge without being dashed to 
pieces. In an instant the young man 
was seen falling with lightning speed 
down the steep sides of the rocks. After 
falling fifty feet he struck a small tree 
among the bushes, where he was held a 
moment, and then plunged two hundred 
feet farther down. 

It was nearly an hour before he was 
rescued. 

Imagination can hardly picture the 
difficulty in reaching him, and returning 
to the residence of Mr. George S. Coe on 
the top of the mountain, Dr. Currie 
was immediately sent for, and attended 
him until he recovered. One of the 
young ladies present had just previous 
to the accident remarked that there were 
thirteen present, and they must be care- 
ful. This remark led them to repeat the 



ENGLEWOOD. 177 

superstitious legend that the number 
thirteen always calls out. A second ac- 
cident happened at the same time. A 
horse that had been tied to a tree, with 
the wheels of the carriage near the 
brink, broke his fastenings and backed 
over the precipice. An eyewitness said 
when he crept near the gorge and looked 
over that he saw flashes of light fly from 
the rocks far down, and the horse passed 
to the river five hundred feet below. 
Eight years previous to this time a 
young woman fell from the same point 
that Anderson did, and was instantly 
killed. Many years have passed since 
an accident has happened, showing that 
this sad lesson has not been forgotten. 



178 ENOLEWOOD. 



LVIII. 

SPECULATING BEYOND THE LIMITS OF THE 
TOWN. 

From 1868 to 1873 some of our most 
enterprising citizens having outgrown 
speculating in village lots, reached out 
far beyond the limits of the town, pur- 
chased many farms, and founded many 
villages, such as Creskill, Norwood, 
Sparkill, and so forth. Seven farms were 
purchased near Blauveltville on the 
branch road which runs from Sparkill to 
Nanuett. 

A new town was to be founded, and a 
station erected on the line of this road. 
The farmers retired to live on the inter- 
est of their mortgages, leaving their land 
to run to weeds and thistles, their build- 
ings to decay, and their fences to ruin. 



ENQLEWOOD. 179 

Several visits were made with the 
president of the road to locate a new 
station, but nothing came of it. Specu- 
lation had reached its limit. The panic 
of 1873 cast a dark shadow over the 
country and the first lesson in suburban 
village history was ended. 

These abandoned farms with fences 
and buildings going to decay were over- 
grown with weeds and underbrush. 

Rather than go to the expense of fore- 
closure the poor farmer took back his 
farm for the mortgage, returned to it, 
and began life anew. 

Thousands of acres of land in Bergen 
County were returned to their original 
owners. 

The Mansard roof broke out in archi- 
tecture about 1868. 

Its craze appeared all over the State, 
but with the fall of Napoleon that style 
of architecture disappeared. Wherever 
you see a Mansard roof you can know to 
a certainty that it was built about 1870. 



180 ENQLEWOOD. 

LVIV. 

THE PANIC OF 1873. 

The cyclone that struck real estate in 
1873 could not have been foreseen by any 
financial weather prophet. It called 
for a settlement of accounts of nearly all 
speculators in village lots or outlying 
lands. 

It was eight or ten years before a re- 
vival came. In the meantime the grave 
of financial ruin had overtaken a great 
many. Very few houses were erected, 
or lots sold, for several years. In the 
interval the world was not idle. The 
student in mechanics, architecture, and 
all other sciences was hard at work, and 
when business revived a new order of 
things took place. 

Architecture became a thing of beauty, 
as well as comfort. 



ENGL E WOOD. 181 



LX. 

THE TABLES TUKNED. 

A change of fortune in which an En- 
glewood gentleman was interested, 
proves the uncertainty of worldly affairs. 

A gentleman purchased a large tract of 
land near Closter, agreeing to pay two 
hundred and seventy-five dollars per 
acre. Real estate at that time was boom- 
ing. The gentleman that made the sale 
discovered that he had sold too cheap, 
and refused to deliver a deed. A law- 
suit was the result. The court ordered 
him to complete the sale. The panic 
came and the land became almost worth- 
less. The law compelled the seller to 
make his fortune, while the one who 



1 82 ENOLEWOOD. 

succeeded in the law was ruined. This 
was nearly twenty-five years ago, and 
the land remains in the hands of the pur- 
chaser. 



ENGLEWOOD. 183 



LXI. 

THE PALISADES LAND COMPANY. 

A mine of stranded hopes lie buried in 
the dark shadows of the Palisades on the 
mountains near Closter. A land com- 
pany was formed by Englewood gentle- 
men, who sold its shares for thirteen 
thousand dollars each. Many men of 
wealth became interested, expecting to 
see a large and prosperous city planted 
there. The panic came, followed a few 
years later by a return to specie. The 
land company dissolved. Each share- 
holder took a deed for his special share, 
or shares, and it is very doubtful whethe 
any one of them could locate his land 
should he attempt it. Many who were 
interested have long since passed away. 



184 ENGLEWOOD. 

James G. Blaine and Whitelaw Reid were 
interested. 

For the purpose of introducing this 
enterprise beyond the boundaries of the 
county, invitations were sent far and 
near for a forest picnic to be held on 
these lands. 

It was a beautiful autumn day. The 
location was charming for a gathering of 
that kind. A large number of ladies and 
gentlemen assembled to enjoy the oc- 
casion. There were many inducements 
to inspire one to purchase an interest in 
these lots. The Honorable S. B. Chit- 
tenden was present. He was a member 
of Congress at the time. Many other 
distinguished persons were in evidence. 
The views and refreshments were much 
enjoyed, but as an effort to unload real 
estate it was not a success. These lands 
remain in their primitive state. Were a 
tribe of Indians to locate here I doubt 
whether they would be disturbed. 



ENQLEWOOD. 185 



LXIL 

SPECULATION IN OIL. 

The "New Jersey Oil Company" was 
a child of Englewood. Lands were pur- 
chased in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and 
stock issued. Messrs. Nathan T. John- 
son, Cornelius Ly decker, Francis How- 
land, I. Smith Homans, and many others 
were officers of the company. 

The writer received stock to the 
amount of five thousand dollars with a 
guarantee. This stock was returned, 
and money refunded within twelve 
months and has always been worthless. 

There was nothing strange about this 
speculation. The oil fever had just 
broken out, and many fortunes were 



186 ENOLEWOOD. 

made and lost. A large number of wise 
and conservative men became interested. 
The girl whose "dad struck ile" flour- 
ished in silks and satins about this period. 



ENOLEWOOD. 187 



LXIII. 

PUKCHASING A GAS MACHINE. 

In 1868 we began to consider the sub- 
ject of illuminating our houses with gas 
or something more convenient than oil. 
As there was no immediate prospect of 
gas, Mr. E. S. Monroe and the writer 
had their attention called to the Spring- 
field gas machine. 

This was the best machine in use, so 
far as we could learn. 

We purchased two machines at a cost 
of six hundred dollars each. They were 
lowered into large cisterns near our 
houses. Before we learned to manage 
these machines two lives came near being 
sacrificed. A son of Mr. Monroe was 
found unconscious in the vault that con- 



188 ENQLEWOOD. 

tained his machine, and a servant had the 
same experience in mine. 

Our experience with these machines 
never proved satisfactory. Within a 
year our Englewood Gas Company was 
organized, when I sold my patent illumi- 
nating machine at a sacrifice. 



ENGLEWOOD. 189 



LXIV. 

THE BERGEN COUNTY GAS COMPANY. 

Gas was introduced into this town in 
1869. It was a fortunate period for the 
company, as times were prosperous and 
nearly every one received it into their 
dwellings. It came high — three dollars 
and fifty cents per thousand feet — but 
money was plenty and no complaint was 
raised. 

The charter for this company was ob- 
tained by James 0. Morse, Daniel Drake 
Smith, Colonel H. W. Banks, and several 
others. Gas bills of thirty and forty 
dollars were not uncommon, and coal in 
1869 was fifteen dollars per ton. 

After thirty years of success this com- 
pany recently sold its stock to a foreign 



190 ENGLEWOOD. 

company. Mr. S. F. Gold was superin- 
tendent and manager. Mr. Gold has 
always been a faithful and competent 
manager of the many different com- 
panies he has represented. 

The first officers of the Gas Company 
were as follows: 

Treasurer, William King; superinten- 
dent, Samuel F. Gold; directors, Daniel 
Drake Smith, James 0. Morse, Ashbel 
Green, Lebbeus Chapman, Jr., Living- 
ston K. Miller. 

Directors and officers just retired : Col- 
onel H. W. Banks, J. Hugh Peters, 
Charles H. Piatt, Sheffield Phelps, B. 
Drake Smith, E. A. Brinkerhoff, 0. 
Drake Smith, Samuel F. Gold, J. Hall 
Browning; secreta^ and treasurer, B. 
Drake Smith; superintendent, Samuel 
F. Gold. 



ENQLEWOOD. 191 



LXV. 

WATEK INTRODUCED. 

Watee was introduced into Englewood 
in 1886 by the Hackensack Water 
Company. This company has its 
offices in Hoboken, and the water 
comes from New Milford. The supply 
has always been abundant and satisfac- 
tory, and it was very fortunate for the 
town that the Hackensack Water Com- 
pany found it convenient to pass our 
doors. This will be appreciated more 
by those who for years were compelled 
to pump their water from wells and cis- 
terns that often ran dry than by those 
that never experienced that labor. 



192 ENQLEWOOD. 



LXVI. 

BROOKSIDE CEMETERY. 

Englewood had been enrolled among 
the villages of New Jersey sixteen years 
before the citizens felt a necessity for a 
place of burial, which is conclusive proof 
that this was a healthy place. 

The subject was long discussed before 
a site was chosen. 

A committee of twenty-one was ap- 
pointed to purchase a piece of land suit- 
able for the purpose. After a thorough 
investigation and search over the town- 
ship the committee decided upon the 
location of the present "Brookside Ceme- 
tary." 

As is often the case in public affairs 
there was strong opposition to this site. 



ENGLEWOOD. 193 

The columns of the press were open for 
discussion. 

Although situated on high rolling 
ground far above two streams that sur- 
rounded it, some thought it damp and 
undesirable; but time has proved the 
wisdom of the choice and its purchase 
has never been regretted. 

The cemetery was purchased in 1876, 
when it was a wild, barren spot filled 
with chestnut, dogwood, and wild 
cedars. It is surrounded with streams 
and swaying treetops with bright sun- 
light playing among the branches. 

Over thirty years have passed, and we 
find within these forest walks a city of 
tombs, beneath which repose the remains 
of a generation of Englewood's pioneers. 
The remains of Rev. James II. Dwight 
sleep under the shadow of the little stone 
chapel in which he preached so many 
years. What more appropriate and fit- 
ting monument to the first pastor of an 



194 ENGLEWOOD. 

Englewood church and what a strange 
chain of circumstance that their last 
resting-place should be side by side in 
that cemetery. 

It became necessary some time ago to 
enlarge the grounds. As it was not pos- 
sible to purchase land adjoining the old 
one the trustees obtained nineteen acres 
on the west side of Engle Street, run- 
ning to the Northern Railroad, and 
bounded by the hospital land on the 
south. These grounds have .been sur- 
veyed, mapped and are now a part of the 
old cemetery. 

The first officers of the old cemetery 
in 1876 were: Trustees, Sheppard Ho- 
mans, Charles G. Sawtelle, Robert J. 
Hunter, Francis Howland, Thomas M. 
Wheeler, Jeffrey A. Humphrey; presi- 
dent, Francis Howland; vice-president, 
Sheppard Homans; treasurer, Jeffrey A. 
Humphrey. 



ENGLEWOOD. 195 



LXVII. 

AN AUCTION SALE. 

An auction sale of property, and the 
motive that prompted it is an interesting 
piece of history, as showing the kind and 
neighborly spirit that existed here 
twenty-five years ago. 

In 1868 Francis Howland sold to Judge 
Cowan of Washington, D. C, his resi- 
dence on Church Street, which included 
about thirty -three acres of land. This 
land was located east of Engle Street, 
and occupied nearly a block, running 
from Chestnut Street, south to Spring 
Lane. Judge Cowan died in the spring 
of 1873, leaving his property incumbered 
for forty thousand dollars, more than it 
was supposed to be worth. Out of kind- 



196 ENGLEWOOD. 

ness to Mrs. Cowan the citizens had the 
land surveyed, lots laid out, and a map 
filed in the county clerk's office at Hack- 
ensack. Winthrop Street was opened at 
that time from Chestnut to Church. 

The auction took place on a beautiful 
autumn day, when nearly every citizen 
of the village took a holiday to attend it. 
They had an unselfish desire to obtain 
from the property the most possible, as 
they wished to realize something more 
than the incumbrance. It was a day of 
hilarity and pleasure, as the purchasers 
who were mostly our own neighbors, bid 
the lots up on each other, retiring to 
cover, when it was thought dangerous to 
proceed further. 

Robert J. Hunter purchased the house 
and several acres bounded by Winthrop 
and Church streets. Daniel Drake 
Smith, Vincent Tilyou, E. S. Monroe, 
J. Wyman Jones, J. A. Humphrey and 
several others made purchases. 



ENOLEWOOD. 197 

George S. Coe was made treasurer. 

When the sale was completed and the 
purchase money all paid in the result 
was seventy-one thousand dollars. 

This sale gave to Mrs. Cowan thirty 
thousand dollars in excess of the in- 
debtedness which enabled her to spend 
the rest of her days in comfort. 

A little before this sale was made J. 
Wyman Jones sold a few lots at auction 
in the business center of Palisade 
Avenue. They brought from four to six 
hundred dollars, which was thought to 
be a fair price. These lots were sold a 
few years later for twenty-five hundred 
dollars each. 

Mr. Jones founded Norwood and built 
the Norwood House. About this period 
speculation was extending up the valley, 
and the building of Norwood was 
thought to be a wise undertaking. Mr. 
Jones gave a splendid dinner to his 
Englewood friends when the hotel was 



1 98 ENOLEWOOD. 

completed. This town continued to 
prosper until the house was destroyed 
by fire. 

This building was not restored, and 
Norwood has never recovered from its 
loss. 



ENOLEWOOD. 199 



LXVIII. 

A CONTEST WITH A BUKGLAE. 

On a dark and stormy night in the 
spring of 1886 two brothers who had been 
spending an evening with friends at a 
neighboring house on Teaneck ridge were 
returning home about 10 o'clock. This 
was a location of scattered farmhouses 
surrounded by forests and fields, a lonely 
walk especially in a fearful storm. In 
returning home they were compelled to 
pass a schoolhouse which stood opposite 
a dark forest some distance from their 
home. As this school building was in 
their district anything unusual occurring 
within its doors at that hour would 
naturally arouse their suspicion. As 
they approached the building a flash of 



200 ENOLEWOOD. 

light caused by a match appeared from 
one of the windows. "What is that!" 
said one of the brothers. "There must 
be some intruder inside." The darkness 
and surrounding gloom made it a moment 
requiring courage to enter that building 
unarmed. This being a family not born 
to fear, the brothers boldly approached 
the door and cautiously started to enter. 
In an instant the flash of a pistol rang 
through the room and its murderous 
contents struck the door, falling at their 
feet. "They are firing bullets," re- 
marked one. Upon continuing to enter 
another shot was fired, but without 
effect, when the young men withdrew. 
Not the least unnerved by these demon- 
strations these two fine types of Ameri- 
can manhood, above the average in cour- 
age and strength, were alert to meet their 
foe without stopping to consider the 
issue, and they took positions on each 
side of the building under its windows. 



ENGLEWOOD. 201 

They had not long to wait, as the burglar 
sprang to the window sill, defended by 
the elder brother, who attacked him with 
a cane, when the desperado fired, the 
ball striking and breaking his shoulder 
blade. He then sprang from the win- 
dow, when a tug of war never antici- 
pated before commenced. After a fear- 
ful struggle the elder brother, although 
suffering from a broken shoulder blade, 
succeeded in landing on top. At this 
time his brother appeared and com- 
menced to beat the robber over the head 
with a jimmy dropped by the rascal, 
which he used with effect. It was 
an unfortunate circumstance that 
directed the robber's hand to the 
pistol that he dropped in the strug- 
gle. Recovering it, he fired, the ball 
passing through the young man's 
body, who, finding his strength failing, 
started for home. After going about one 
hundred yards he called for help, when 



202 ENGLEWOOD. 

he was assisted home by his brother and 
friends. The would-be murderer had 
been beaten into insensibility, but re- 
covered sufficient to seek the seclusion 
of a dark forest. George S. Coe, Jr., for 
that was the wounded brother's name, 
by his athletic training and previous cor- 
rect life had sufficient reserve force to 
sustain and bring him back to health 
after long and weary months of painful 
and patient struggle. Word had been 
conveyed to the Protection Society that 
George S. Coe, Jr., had been dangerously 
wounded by a burglar, when over two 
hundred people with lanterns and wea- 
pons appeared on the scene and spent 
the night in a vain search for the burg- 
lar. A reward of two thousand dollars 
was offered by the society for his appre- 
hension. After wandering several days 
in the dark recesses of the Palisades he 
appeared at the Hoboken ferry in an at- 
tempt to reach New York, but a police- 



ENOLEWOOD. 203 

man, seeing in that ragged and tattered 
form the man he was looking for, ar- 
rested and returned him to the Protec- 
tion Society. After a long trial he was 
sentenced to fifteen years in state 
prison. The courage displayed by these 
two brothers, Messrs. George S. and 
Louis S. Coe, is hardly excelled in the 
annals of history. 

The Protection Society is entitled to 
great credit for the part taken by them 
in the arrest, trial, and conviction of this 
daring criminal. 

The law has been satisfied as the burg- 
lar has served his term and is now at 
liberty. It is reported that Mrs. Balling- 
ton Booth took an interest in him while 
in prison, and that after serving out his 
term he joined her army, and is with 
them at the present time. 



204 ENOLEWOOD. 



LXIX. 

OUR OLDEST MASTER BUILDERS. 

Andrew D. Bogart and Henry Jones 
have long occupied a conspicuous place 
in Englewood history, not only as master 
builders who have constructed the great- 
est number of our houses and other build- 
ings, but as citizens and neighbors who 
have long been identified as sharing the 
burdens and responsibilities of the 
church and the government of the town. 

They have lived here nearly forty 
years, and the finest buildings presented 
to our view are of their construction. 

I refer to them as they are very old 
residents and are the most conspicuous 
in our history as builders. 



ENGLEWOOD. 205 



LXX. 

AN EX-TAMMANY SHERIFF 

resided in this town at one time in its 
early history. Ex-Sheriff Orser lived 
for some years on Teaneck, in an old 
colonial house situated a little south of 
Englewood Avenue. He devoted his de- 
clining years to riding to and from this 
village, working on his grounds, and re- 
hearsing the sins of Tammany Hall. He 
had peculiar ideas about some things, 
among others was that he was opposed 
to capital punshment for females, be- 
cause his mother w T as a woman. This 
was said in referring to Mrs. Surrat, an 
accomplice of J. Wilkes Booth, the mur- 
derer of President Lincoln. 



^06 ENGLEWOOD. 



LXXI. 

A CHAPTEE ON TAXES. 

The subject of taxation is ever present, 
and from it there is no escape. The 
taxes on property in this township were 
very light for many years after we came 
here, even when we consider that the old 
township of Hackensack, which was 
three times as large, included Englewood 
in its boundary. As the village began 
public improvements taxes rapidly in- 
creased. Valuations increased by capi- 
tal being invested in buildings and lands, 
but never seemed to keep pace with the 
increasing expenses of the township. 
The bills for taxes in 1870, 1880, 1888,1894 
and 1897 on a piece of property I own will 



ENOLEWOOD. 207 

show the increase for those years $49, 
$60, $90, $125, $150. We escape many an- 
noying taxes of our ancestors, and in com- 
parison ought not to complain. Tradi- 
tion states that our forefathers were 
obliged to submit to personal taxes which 
extended to females. In 1695 females paid 
the collector a personal tax of two shill- 
ings a head, that is, those who earned a 
livelihood, and males twice the amount; 
in case of old men and minors, they 
were often remitted. 

The first assessor of this township was 
Daniel G. Boast; collector, Cornelius 
Herring. 



208 ENGLEWOOD. 



LXX1I. 

GOOD TEMPLARS. 

In Englewood's early days there was 
but one Prohibitionist in the town, that 
was a Mr. Coxhead, who comprised the 
entire society and elected himself to all 
its offices. He came from Fort Lee to 
vote that ticket. Shortly after this the 
I. 0. G. T. Society was organized, when 
Mr. Coxhead joined them. Their num- 
bers soon increased until they became 
quite influential. Their efforts restored 
to respectable citizenship many con- 
firmed and excessive drinkers. They 
accomplished much as a temperance 
party, but they entered the arena of 
politics and died from its excessive in- 
dulgence. They demanded that a good 
templar should vote the prohibition 
ticket. This demand retired the party. 



ENGLEWOOD. * 209 



LXXIII. 

CATHOLIC SOCIETIES. 

The Catholic Benevolent Legion and 
St. Cecilia's Total Abstinence society are 
accomplishing much for the elevation 
and assistance of their members. The 
former in establishing a fund for families 
left without means of support, and by 
those who have complied with all its re- 
quirements. And the latter are en- 
couraging temperance and endeavoring to 
elevate its members to a higher plane of 
morals and intelligence. 

These societies are under the protect- 
ing care of the Catholic Church, and have 
accomplished much in an effort to attract 
its people in paths of usefulness. 



210 ENOLEWOOD. 



LXXIV. 

TUSCAN LODGE, F. AND A. M. NO. 115. 

Tuscan Lodge, F. and A. M., No. 115, 
was organized in 1871. The first officers 
were: Treasurer, Alexander Cass; Secre- 
tary, John A. Hyde; Officers, Peter 
Rogers, W. C. Davis, Moses E. Springer, 
Alexander Cass, John A. Hyde; Charter 
Members, Peter Rogers, John E. Wentz, 
William C. Davis, Alexander Cass, Moses 
E. Springer, John W. Dale, John A. 
Hyde, Jacob Campbell, Samuel Stalter, 
Joseph Conklin; Trustees for 1899, Wil- 
liam C. Davis, one year; Robert Steven- 
son, two years; Henry Booth, three 
years; Finance Committee, John M. 



ENQLEWOOD. 211 

Booth, P. M., M. Frank Vanderbeek, 
George D. De Mott. 

This lodge is in a flourishing condition 
and its membership is constantly in- 
creasing. 



212 ENGLEWOOD. 



LXXV. 

ODD FELLOWS. 

Englewood Lodge, I. 0. of 0. F., 197, 
was founded October 25, 1883, with four- 
teen members. This lodge has splendid 
rooms in the Vanderbeek Building, and 
has always been very active and prosper- 
ous. It has now ninety-five members. 
Its first officers were: First N. G., 
Samuel I. Demarest; Vice G., Albert H. 
Clark; Recording Secretary, Alvin Conk- 
lin; Permanent Secretary, John Henry 
Ackerman; Treasurer, Henry West. 

The present officers are: First N. G., 
Charles Brucker; Vice G., James M. 
Gulnock; Recording Secretary, J. Edgar 
Brown; Permanent Secretary, Samuel I. 
Demarest; Treasurer, John M. Foley. 



ENGLEWOOD. 213 



LXXVI. 

THE ROYAL ARCANUM. 

The Palisade Council Royal Arcanum 
was organized March 27, 1889. Officers 
at the time of organization: Regent, 
C. 0. Dewey; Vice-Regent, R. P. Worten- 
dyke; Orator, G. B. Best; Past Regent, 
W. J. M. Byrne; Collector, E. J. Sheri- 
den; Secretary, Perry Chamberlain; 
Treasurer, C. L. Vanderbeek; Chaplain, 
M. Mattison; Guide, J. R. Vreeland; 
Warden, M. F. Vanderbeek; Sentry, 
James D. Vanderbeek. 

This society was founded for a benevo- 
lent purpose, which it has strictly ad- 
hered to and is very economically man- 
aged. 

The officers of 1899 are as follows: Re- 



214 ENOLEWOOD. 

gent, G. W. Springer; Vice Regent, G. N. 
Lounsbury; Orator, S. C. Abramson; 
Past regent, F. Meyerhoff; collector, 
R. B. Taylor; Secretary, G. W. Whyard; 
Treasurer, Jacob R. Demarest; Chaplain, 
A. H. Engelke; Guide, M. Mattison; 
Warden, J. H. Howe; Sentry, J. H. 
Garrison. 



ENGLEWOOD. 215 



LXXVII. 

DWIGHT POST. 

Dwight Post, 103, G. A. R., was organ- 
ized March 25, 1887. It was named for 
the Rev. James H. Dwight, who served 
in the union army, both as soldier and 
chaplain. The existence of this organi- 
zation is measured by the lives of its 
members, and slowly and surely its num- 
bers must continue to decrease. These 
veterans meet once a year, and march to 
the Brookside Cemetery in memory of 
their soldier chaplain. There an oration 
is delivered by some citizen, when they 
sadly return, filled with the memories of 
scenes enacted thirty years ago. 

The following are the charter mem- 



216 ENOLEWOOD. 

bers: P. C., William C. Davis; S. V. 0., 
Charles Barr; J. V. C, Rudolph H. 
Smith; Adjutant, John H. Hopper; Q. M., 
John D. Christie; Surgeon, Robert Man- 
ger; Chaplain, William Fredericks; 
0. D., Frederick D. Coyte; 0. G., James 
H. Demarest. 



ENGLEWOOD. 217 



LXXVIII. 

LOAN AND BUILDING ASSOCIATION. 

The Englewood Loan and Building As- 
sociation was organized in 1887 and has 
accomplished much in assisting families 
of small means to obtain a home with- 
out much ready cash. The western part 
of the town is thickly populated with 
handsome, inexpensive houses which may 
have never been built if assistance had 
not been rendered by this associa- 
tion. It has been faithfully, and eco- 
nomically managed and has been very 
successful as shown by its reports. 
Moses E. Springer, its efficient secretary, 
has held the office since 1890. 

Its first officers: President, Samuel 
Riker; Vice-President, R. S. Mangham, 
Treasurer, Henry Jones. 



218 ENGLEWOOD. 



LXXIX. 

THE DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION. 

Memories of the old "Liberty Pole" 
have been restored to new life, and its 
historic events revived by the Daughters 
of the Revolution. The "Liberty Pole" 
Chapter of Englewood was organized in 
1893. It revives pleasant memories of 
our patriotic forefathers to whose cour- 
age and valor we are indebted for the 
freedom and religious liberty we all en- 
joy. The thanks of our citizens should 
be extended to the patriotic women who 
have founded a society to keep green not 
only the memory of our ancestors, but 
the spot so dear to all where liberty's 
banner was unfurled in the trying days 
of the revolution. 

Lexington and Evacuation day, the 
beginning and end of our struggle for 



ENGLEWOOD. 219 

liberty are to be remembered by this 
society. 

The following were the first officers : 
Mrs. Livingston K. Miller, Regent; Mrs. 
William A. Childs, Treasurer; Mrs. Ed- 
ward W. Clarke, Secretary; Miss Ada- 
line Sterling, State Historian, N. J. So- 
ciety D. R. 

This society celebrated the battle of 
Lexington on the 19th of April of the 
present year, when a bronze shield was 
unveiled, the inscription on which is: 
"Erected by the Liberty Pole Chapter, 
D. R., to commemorate the Liberty Pole 
which stood on this spot in revolutionary 
times." 

The ceremony was opened with prayer 
by the Rev. Dr. Samuel M. Hamilton, 
after which a very interesting address 
was delivered by Mayor E. A. Brinker- 
hoff. 

The tablet was presented to the society 
by Mr. Abram De Ronde. 



220 ENQLEWOOD. 



LXXX. 

THE WOMANS' EXCHANGE. 

The Womans' Exchange is an institu- 
tion of recent years. Like many things 
in nature and commerce it appeared 
when required. It is an institution 
peculiar to itself, and differs from all 
others as it is conducted by women, 
and forms a social and commercial ex- 
change, where producer and consumer 
are friends and neighbors. The business 
is conducted by a third party who re- 
ceives and disposes of the wares on com- 
mission. 

The Woman's Exchange in Englewood 
was organized in 1887, and occupies a 
very useful position in this community. 

Its first board of managers were Mrs. 
Samuel Duncan, President; Mrs. Shep- 



ENOLEWOOD. 221 

pard Homans, Treasurer; Mrs. George 
D. Hall, Secretary. 

In 1897 it became incorporated under 
a special act. 

The following persons were the first 
members of the society: Sarah B. Banks, 
Mary B. Barber, Emily A. Brinkerhoff, 
Eva B. Browning, Julia S. Childs, Paul- 
ine M. Clephane, Mary E. D. Coe, Helen 
R. Congdon, Elizabeth Coppell, Sophia 
G. Davison, Jeanette L. Enos, Sarah C. 
Evans, Sarah H. Homans, Emily B. Kid- 
der, Mary W. Oliphant, Mary A. Peters, 
Louisa A. Rochester, Persis A. Rock- 
wood, Henrietta L. Sawtelle, Ellen 
Squire, Mary E. B. Story, Janet T. Wells, 
Charlotte B. Whittemore, Ellen P. 
Wickes. 

The following persons were its officers : 
Emily A. Brinkerhoff, President; Char- 
lotte B. Whittemore, Vice-President; 
Mary E. B. Story, Secretary; Mary B. 
Barber, Treasurer. 



222 ENOLEWOOD. 

To Miss Henrietta L. Sawtelle is due 
especial credit for her great ability and 
untiring efforts to make this exchange a 
success. 

It owns and occupies a beautiful build- 
ing in a pleasant locality away from all 
other business enterprises, and is con- 
ducted on a higher and more restricted 
plane than other institutions of business. 
It has no bargain counters, nor does it 
grow rich by false pretenses. 



BNOLEWOOD. 233 



LXXXI. 

THE LYCEUM. 

The Lyceum Building was erected in 
1889, several years after the Atheneuin 
was destroyed by fire. It is located on 
the corner of Palisade Avenue and Engle 
Street, and is a very substantial and 
sightly building. It includes a fine con- 
cert hall, a "Gentlemans' Club," which 
occupies several large rooms, where its 
members can meet and enjoy themselves 
as they wish in reading, billiards, cards, 
conversation, etc. 

A large circulating library is located 
on the first floor of this building, which 
was organized in 1890, and has met with 
great success. It comprises all the newest 



224 ENOLEWOOD. 

publications, and now has over six thou- 
sand volumes. The needs and benefits of 
a library are appreciated in this age of 
civilization. 

The Citizens' National Bank is located 
in this building and has been a great 
benefit to the town. It started with a 
capital of fifty thousand dollars which it 
has doubled in ten years. 

The first officers of the Lyceum were: 
President, Dwight A. Jones; Vice-Presi- 
dent, E. A. Brinkerhoff ; Treasurer, C. H. 
Blake; Secretary, B. Drake Smith. It 
has an efficient board of directors and is 
conducted in a conservative manner. 




A Business [Section. 




Daisy Fields. 



JJWGLEWOOD. 225 



LXXXII. 

DAISY FIELDS. 

The sympathies of the civilized world 
are always aroused by the cry of suffer- 
ing from innocent children. We hardly 
realize this condition as we ought un- 
less it is brought within our vision. 

On the outskirts of our city to the 
northwest, and near the Knickerbocker 
Road is located a home and hospital 
for crippled children, called "Daisy 
Fields." A beautiful name suggestive 
of meadows and flowers, forests and 
streams. In 1893 a kind and philan- 
thropic family who have long made 
Englewood their home, feeling that they 
might make happy and brighten the 



226 ENQLEWOOD. 

lives of a few unfortunate and crippled 
children, kindly engaged a cottage on 
the borders of the city. This place in- 
cludes several acres of land, inclosing 
meadows with many fine shade trees 
overhead, and through which passes a 
small brook where the children can for- 
get their troubles, and enjoy fresh air 
and peaceful surroundings. A few of 
these children are able to roam in the 
fields and enjoy a beautiful stream of 
water that supplies a pond recently con- 
structed within these grounds, but the 
children are nearly all cripples or in- 
valids for life, and it is sad to think that 
they can only remain spectators in the 
scenes that surround them. 

We forget in our busy lives that there 
are many things we might contribute 
that would be inexpensive, and greatly 
add to their pleasure and comfort, such 
as toys, games, books, clothing, etc. 

We may amuse them during their 



ENGLEWOOD. 227 

youth, but their pathway through life is 
hard to contemplate. As men and 
women their paths may lead to the gate- 
way of the hospital or the institutions for 
the poor. 

The result of the first year's experience 
was such that this institution was incor- 
porated and the enterprise successfully 
continued from that time. The cottage 
was recently enlarged and the grounds 
improved. The children have been 
greatly benefited under this kind treat- 
ment, and many have returned to their 
homes. This institution depends upon 
its own contributions or those of its 
friends, as it has no endowment. The 
following were its first officers: Presi- 
dent, Mrs. Herbert B. Turner; Vice- 
President, Miss Francis E. Lyman ; Secre- 
tary, Mrs. D. Webster Evans; Treasurer, 
Mrs. Joseph E. Tillinghast. 

The officers at the present time (1899) 
are: President, Mrs. Herbert B. Turner; 



228 ENGLEWOOD. 

Vice-President, Miss Frances M. Lyman; 
Secretary, Mr. Thornton Floyd Turner; 
Treasurer, Mrs. Joseph R. Tillinghast. 
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert B. Turner deserve 
great credit for their efforts in behalf of 
these crippled children. 



ENGLEWOOD. 229 



LXXXIII. 

A NEW CHUECH. 

The West Side Presbyterian Church 
was organized in April, 1898, from a Sun- 
day school which began in 1894 by mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian Church. 

Some time previous to the Rev. Dr. 
Henry M. Booth's departure from Engle- 
wood he had noticed the rapid increase 
of population on the west side of the 
town, north and south of Palisade Avenue 
extension, and made the remark that 
there would soon be a demand for a 
church in that thriving locality. 

It was not very long before Dr. Booth's 
prophecy came true, as meetings for 
prayer were held in different families 
until October, 1894, when a room was 
engaged in Professor August Kursteiner's 



230 ENOLEWOOD. 

school building, where services were 
held every Friday and Sunday evenings, 
and a Sunday school established. The 
Presbyterian Church kept a watchful 
eye on this new church, and encouraged 
its development in every way. 

The Rev. James Eells and E. A. 
Brinkerhoff, two members of the session 
of the Presbyterian Church suggested 
that Dwight Chapel was too large for the 
wants of Calvary Mission, and advised 
its gift to the West Side Presbyterian 
Church. 

In reference to Dwight Chapel it may 
be stated that this building was a noble 
gift by one of Englewood's former resi- 
dents to the memory of the Rev. James 
H. Dwight. 

The condition of the gift of Dwight 
Chapel was that it should be located 
where it would do the most good, and 
was placed under the care of the Presby- 
terian Church. 



ENQLEWOOD. 231 

A meeting of this church resulted in 
presenting Dwight Chapel to the West 
Side Church on condition that it would 
incorporate under the title of the West 
Side Union Chapel for the purpose of en- 
abling them to receive the gift. These 
conditions all being complied with 
Dwight Chapel was transferred to the 
West Side Presbyterian Church. 

Money was raised and a new building 
was placed on the old foundation of Cal- 
vary Mission of sufficient size for their 
needs. 

Five thousand dollars were speedily 
raised to purchase land, build a founda- 
tion, move the building and prepare it for 
its new condition. 

When the new church was organized, 
the Presbytery, at the suggestion of the 
people, appointed the Rev. Fisher H. 
Booth chairman of the meeting, and 
Charles F. Park was also made a member 
of the committee. 



232 ENGLEWOOD. 

The Presbyterian Church gave letters 
of dismissal to thirty-six members, that 
they might be received into membership 
of the West Side Church. 

This church was established with fifty- 
two members. 

The church is now established on a 
solid foundation, and is growing rapidly 
under the charge of their esteemed pas- 
tor, the Rev. Charles A. Junkin. 



ENQLEWOOD. 233 



LXXXIV. 

OUR FIEE DEPARTMENT. 

We have a very efficient fire depart- 
ment, and since its existence very little 
damage has resulted from conflagration. 
Previous to this organization we had 
some heavy losses. The most noticeable 
were the Palisade Mountain House, and 
the extensive dwelling of William Walter 
Phelps, one overlooking the Hudson 
River, the other on Teaneck Eidge. 
These buildings were situated at the ex- 
treme east and west end of the town- 
ship, and were a total loss. They are 
beautiful ruins, as ivy and creeping vines 
cover the walls and reach to the tops of 
their tall chimneys. 

The Mountain House was a great loss 



234 ENOLEWOOD. 

to Englewood, as its summer guests 
added much to its life and business. A 
large stone mansion was consumed a few 
years ago, which stood on a large piece 
of ground near the center of the village, 
upon which there was no insurance, and 
within its walls in some unsafe deposit 
trunk or closet rested twenty thousand 
dollars in unregistered bonds. All the 
owner received for said bonds was the 
lesson it taught. 

It will be well for the rising generation 
to take a little stock in this lesson of 
experience. 



ENOLEWOOD. 235 



LXXXV. 

A CITY OF DWELLINGS. 

Foetunately we are not a manufactur- 
ing town. Several attempts have been 
made to locate large factories here, but 
they did not mature. A silk mill was 
started here a few years ago, but after 
running some time it went into the 
hands of a receiver. The only mill that 
succeeds too well here is the gin mill. 
A statement of the fact is sufficient. It 
is hard to realize how the residents of 
Englewood, with their beautiful homes, 
could be benefited by making this a 
manufacturing town. 

The object of the founders of Engle- 
wood was to build a town of substantial 
homes, where peace and happiness 



236 ENQLEVTOOD. 

might dwell. The future to them was a 
pleasant dream of gilded hopes, which 
lured them into paths, the termination of 
which they knew not. 

The class of men they induced to settle 
here throws a pleasant light across their 
pathway, and proves that their motives 
and desires were of a high order. 

Death called one after another before 
their work was completed. 



ENGLEWOOD. 237 



LXXXVI. 

THE CHARACTER OF OUR CITY. 

The character of a town becomes what 
its founders make it. They form its 
institutions and direct its affairs; they 
unfurl its banner and proclaim its prin- 
ciples. 

The character of this town has always 
been maintained, though the ranks have 
been thinned by a relentless fate, but for- 
tunately a kind Providence has sent us 
others who have filled their places and 
assumed the responsibilities that rest on 
the town. 

Englewood's good name has reached 
far beyond the hills that surround the 
town, and within its gates the fathers are 
proud of their children. 

THE END. 



fc 



UBBARV OF CONGAS 



' 014 206 246 A 



